95 



{b) In the stalk the spicules are spindles and a few four-rayed forms. The 

 spindles are either straight or curved and have few simple spines, and vary from 

 024 to ()'4 mm. in length and from 0048 to 008 mm. in breadth. In the four- 

 rayed forms two of the rays lie in a plane at right angles to the plane of the 

 other two. 



Colour — The stalk, stem and branches are yellowish-white to white ; the 

 polyp-stalks white on the lower branches, brownish-red on the upper ; the lower 

 polyp-spicules white on the lower branches, red on the upper ; the upper polyp- 

 spicules white in all polyps. 



Locality : Andamans. 



Dendronephthya variata, Henderson. 



This species is represented by a small, bush-shaped colony, measuring 3o 

 cm. in height and "io cm. in greatest breadth, and characterised by the broad 

 deep fringe formed by the lower branches. 



The stalk is 13 cm. in length, fully one- 

 third of the total height. It is slender and 

 expands a little towards its upper end, while 

 at the* lower end it is greatly contracted and 

 gives off a number of slender stolons. 



The polyparium is oval in shape with its 

 long axis inclined at an angle to the axis of 

 the stalk, and is flattened, one side more than 

 the other. The lower part of the polyparium 

 is formed of small branches which arise directly 

 from the stem, and both stem and branches are 

 deep red in colour. Directly above this there 

 is an abrupt change to white and also a division 

 of the stem into two parts, one of which is 

 itself divided. From the surface of these prin- 

 cipal branches smaller branches arise in every 

 direction and are cylindrical in shape, and by 

 repeated division give rise to the polyp-bearing 

 twigs. The upper part of the polyparium is characterised by the white colour 

 which has streaks and splashes of red on it, mostly on the polyjjs, polyp-stalks 

 and twigs. 



The polyps are arranged in small bundles of four to seven on stalks of 

 about 1 mm. in length, and are arranged in distinct umbels on the upper part, 

 but in somewhat divaricate fashion below. They stand at right angles to 

 obtuse angles on the stalks, and are small flat ovals, measuring 042 mm. 



Fig. 48. D. variata. 



