ZOOPHYTA, 



ORDER I. ACTINOIDEA. 



SUB-ORDER I. ACTINARIA. 

 TRIBE I. ASTR^EACEA. 



Zoophyta aut omnino carnosa, aut coralligena ; tentaculis numerosis, 

 multiseriatis, aut sparsis. S<zpe gemmata, gemmatione superiore, 

 polypis superne lateraliter prolatantibus. Coralligenis, corallis calr 

 careis, cellis multiradiatis, lamellis ultra cellas productis, itaque super- 

 jicie corallorum aggregatorum lamello-striatd. 



Zoophytes, either wholly fleshy or coralligenous; tentacles numerous, 

 in more than one series, or scattered. Often budding ; buds termi- 

 nal or sub-terminal, the polyps widening above by growth. Coralla 

 calcareous, lamellae of cells numerous, intersecting the interstices 

 between cells in massive species. 



The polyps of the Astrseacea are described in the preceding pages 

 (M 19, to 29, and 42). The general appearance of the corals usually 

 distinguishes them at a glance from other species. When massive, 

 the whole surface is marked with the radiating lamellse, those of one 

 cell extending and meeting those of the next, instead of being con- 

 fined to the cell itself, as in the Madreporacea and recent Caryophyl- 

 lacea (H 48, 76). 



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