TRIBE II. CARYOPHYLLACEA. 379 



Coralla caliculato-ramose ; alive only at the tips of the branches, 

 and in this part usually striate, with the striae equalling the lamellae 

 in number; but below, where dead, the striae becoming obsolete. 



The Caryophyllise form branched clumps, usually much crowded 

 and cespitose, and rarely arborescent. They are distinguished by 

 having only the tips -of the branches alive; each polyp-bud forming 

 a distinct branch, and lengthening it by gradual outward growth, the 

 parts below becoming dead as it progresses. When alive they are all 

 tipped with polyps, "les fleurs du corail." The coralla are rather 

 fragile, and in this respect, as well as their mode of growth, they are 

 distinct from the Oculinae. The cells are concave, resembling much 

 those of the Dendrophyllise. The lamellae are very slightly if at all 

 exsert, and are generally crowded and subequal. 



In the young state the Caryophyllise are simple, cylindrical or tur- 

 binate polyps, and the calicles resemble much a Turbinalia. It is 

 still doubtful whether there are actually any simple or non-budding 

 species, as those so reported may have been the young of branching 

 species. These remarks apply equally to the genus Dendrophyllia ; 

 and in this early state, the species of that genus can scarcely be 

 distinguished from the Caryophylliss, as the essential characteristics 

 of these genera depend on the mode of budding and growth. It 

 appears, however, that the calicles of the Caryophylliae have the striae 

 of the exterior corresponding each to a lamella of the cell, while the 

 Dendrophylliee are much more finely striated when at all so ; and in 

 general, moreover, the lamellae of the Caryophylliae appear more even 

 and crowded, except in the large species. 



The simple species will be thrown into an Appendix, either to this 

 genus or Dendrophyllia, according as the striaa of the exterior surface 

 correspond or not to the lamellae of the cells. 



Arrangement of the Species. 



*1. C. cespitosa. *4. C. arbuscula. 



*2. C. conferta. *5. C. cornigera. 



*3. C. flexuosa. 6. C. anthophyllum. 



1. CARYOPHYLLIA CESPITOSA. (Lamarck.} 



C. cespitosa, caulibus elongato-cylindricis, suberectis, confertim fascicu- 

 latis, vix 2'" crassis ; poly pis late aurantiads. Corallum ramis 



