[1] It produces a range of secondary metabolites called halogenated furanones that have ecological roles as defenses against epiphytes and herbivores.

[2] Furanones are localised in the central vesicle of gland cells in D. pulchra[2].

The presence of a series of conjugated double bonds in the structure of furanones cause these compounds to fluoresce when excited by the wavelength close to UV.

Prevention of biofilm on Delisea pulchra's surface The halogenated furanones produced by D. pulchra are structurally similar to bacterial signalling molecules called acylated homoserine lactones (AHL).

There is evidence that the halogenated furanones attach to the bacteria receptor proteins for AHLs disabling bacterial communication.