colony

Description:

Haeckels figure legend reads: A small coenobium or colony in the state of alveolation, forming a jelly-sphere, composed of a great number of capsulated individuals, densely aggregated. Each central capsule contains an oil-globule, and is enclosed by a spherical lattice-shell, which bears a few (one to four) short cylindrical tubules. Each shell is again enveloped by a membranous polyhedral alveole and separated from it by structureless jelly. The thick cortical jelly-envelope, which surrounds the whole spherical colony, exhibits a fine radial striation, produced by radiating pseudopodia; many xanthella or yellow cells are scattered in the calymma.