The polyp may enlarge and grow out sideways into 

 lobes, without dividing or branching, so that it event- 

 ually becomes flower shaped. Since the coral cup grows 

 with the polyp this too will become flower shaped 



Figure 11. Lengthv/ise sections of corals illustrating mode,s of branching 

 and colony formafion. Greatly simplified. 1, lateral budding of a single 

 polyp . 2, formation of a massive colony by growth and branching of the 

 polyps, showing transverse partitions laid down as growth of the polyp 

 progrestses. 3. growth in which the original polyp continues to remain at 

 the apex, forming branching colonies similar to Acropora. Dark portion 

 represents stony skeleton. 



44 



