TRIBE I. ASTR^EACEA. 195 



sime foliaceis, lamello-striatis, cellas amplas includentibus, scepe paucis 

 oririmis (sicut in Pavoniis) lateralibus. 



Aggregate Astreeidse ; animals quite broad, with the sides expanded 

 explanate, and assurgent ; tentacles minute. Coralla substipitate ; 

 septa thin foliaceous, lamello-striate, enclosing broad cells, and 

 often having on the lateral surface a few oririmes similar to those 

 of the Pavonice. 



The animals of the Tridacophylliee are thin and broad, with the 

 sides spreading widely, and rising into thin, erect, foliated crests. 

 Deep among the folia, in the live specimens, lie the broad polyp-disks 

 encircled by an irregular series of minute tentacles. The sides of the 

 folia often bear other polyps, which more resemble those of the Fungia 

 tribe than of the Astreeidee ; and in the corallum, the radiated oririmes 

 corresponding, are quite Pavonia-like. Thus, while these corals are 

 closely related to the Manicinae on one side, from which they differ 

 principally in their foliaceous septa, they are also through the Pavonise, 

 near the Fungidse. 



The Tridacophyllise are confined to the warm coral-reef seas. 



The genus Tridacophyllia was established by Blainville for the 

 Pavonia lactuca of Lamarck. Ehrenberg places this species in his 

 genus Manicina. 



1. TRIDACOPHYLLIA LACTUCA. (Pallas.} Blainvilk. 



T. subhemispherica. Corallum septis foliaceis tenuissimis, scepe 3-4" 

 altis, profundissime et fragiliter laciniatis ; cellis amplis profundis, 

 et paucis oririmis lateralibus ; lamellis angustissimis, subdenticulatis, 

 granulosis, supra obsoktis : super fide inferiore remote striatis. 



Subhemispherical. Corallum, with very thin foliaceous septa, often' 

 3 to 4 inches high, very deeply laciniate, and fragile ; cells large 

 and deep, with a few lateral oririmes ; lamellae very narrow, sub- 

 denticulate, granulous, becoming obsolete near the upper margin 

 of the folia ; under surface remotely striate. 



Plate 9, figure 10. 



East Indies. Exp. Exp.West Indies (?). Pallas, Ellis. 



