The physical structure of I. hippuris is composed of nodes and inter nodes, essentially "stacked" on top of each other, giving it the nickname sea bamboo. Together, the nodes and inter nodes can create either a skinny or thick structure, and oftentimes look similar to many organism's spine.
The physical structure of I. hippuris is made up of nodes and inter nodes, stacked on top of each other, earning it the nickname sea bamboo. The combination of nodes and inter nodes can produce either a slender or robust framework, often resembling many organisms' spines.