GLOSSARY OF CORAL MORPHOLOGIC TERMS

Colony shape

The overall shape of a colony
 
Character State Definition Illustration
massive Mound-shaped or encrusting colony [example: Siderastrea stellata]
branching plates Colony composed of elongate platy projections [example: Pavona sp.A]
platy (corallites on one side of plate) Flattened colony with calices on only one side [example: Agaricia fragilis]
platy (corallites on both sides of plate) Flattened colony with calices on both sides [example: Undaria agaricites]
 




Last updated on July 30, 2003-brb.