TRIBE I. ASTR^EACEA. 281 



Madrepora lamellosa (?) Esper, Pflanz. Fortsetz. i. tab. 58, " Mad. polymorpha, laminis 

 latissimis, plicatis, sinuato-repandis, striis exasperatis, stellis sparsis, prominulis, deriticu- 

 latis." Esper states that only the upper surface is spinulous. 



Tab. 52 of Ellis and Solander resembles some specimens of this species in general form, 

 but differs in its cells. 



The E. rosularia of Lamarck approaches this species, but grows in spreading explanate 

 fronds from a central attachment, instead of erect. 



5. ECHINOPORA ASPERA. (Ellis.} Dana. 



E. explanata, partim incrustans, margine tennis et undulata ; supra, 

 scepe gibbosa et cumulato-subramosa ; polypis grandibus, J J" latis. 

 Corallum supra crasse lameUo-striatum et valde spinoso-dentatum, cali- 

 culis 3-6'" latis, prominulis, sive hemispherids sive obsoktis. 



Explanate, partly incrusting, margin thin and undulate ; sometimes 

 gibbous above and cumulato-subramose ; polyps large, \ to \ an 

 inch broad. Corallum above coarsely lamello-striate and strongly 

 spinoso-dentate ; calicles 3 to 6 lines broad, somewhat prominent, 

 occasionally hemispherical, often wholly immersed. 



East Indies. 



The aspera is a broad explanate species with an undulate and usually 

 convex upper surface, from which rise occasional irregular protube- 

 rances and stout incipient branches, consisting of several aggregated 

 polyps. It grows to a large size and has a rough or echinate appear- 

 ance from the prominent spinoso-dentate lamellae that cover the surface. 

 A specimen from Ceylon, examined by the author, had a thickness of 

 three-quarters of an inch about the centre, but a thin and rather fragile 

 reflexed margin. Over the surface the calicles are but little convex, 

 and in the more concave parts they are quite obsolete; but on the 

 protuberances and incipient branches, they are subglobose, and vary 

 from one-fifth to half an inch in breadth. The lamellae of the stars 

 are very prominent, and have the exterior margin much thickened 

 and jaggedly dentate. The centre of the cell is surrounded by a series 

 of deep cellules, as in the other Echinoporss. 



Mad. aspera, Ellis and Solander, 156, tab. inches in breadth, with the calicles half 

 39 ; the figure represents a specimen ten to three-quarters of an inch distant. 



71 



