Brush Coral

zooxanthellate

This forms large, low, roughly circular tables or semi-circular brackets. It has a fairly variable form, mostly due to its very wide range of habitats. In turbulent water it forms solid, heavy sheets with stunted vertical branchlets (it is found in very rough water), and in sheltered conditions its branchlets become longer, slender and more separate. All intermediate conditions are common. Its branches anastomose strongly such that central portions may be thick, unbroken sheets, especially in exposed locations, where the tables may touch the substrate and form several secondary points of attachment. In all cases, branchlets turn upwards vertically from the upper surface of the tables. They may show elongated axial corallites, or else the branchlet tips may terminate in "rosettes" of calices with no protuberant axial corallite. Both conditions usually occur in the same colonies. This species usually shows emerged, long and waving tentacles during the daytime. This species is commonest in less than 3 or 4 m depth, where it is a very consistent component of the surf zone on exposed reef crests. It shows highest cover values (of over 20%) in the roughest areas. However, it has a very wide distribution, and may be found in clear water and lagoonal areas to 35 m deep (Sheppard, 1998). Colonies are wide, flat tables which are thin and finely structured. Fine upward projecting branchlets have a rosette-like arrangement of radial corallites. Axial corallites are not exsert. Colour: uniform cream, brown or green with or without blue- or pink-growing margins. Abundance: one of the most abundant corals of upper reef slopes and outer reef flats (Veron, 1986). A tabular species with fine branches which project upwards. The radial corallites give the tips a rosette-like appearance. Colonies are often tiered. Colour: often brown. Habitat: reef slopes (Richmond, 1997).