MADREPORES. 



I8 7 



siderable depth, radiating into numerous lamellae, forming a widely- 

 branching arborescent coral, externally striated, internally furrowed, 

 and truncate at the extremities. The animals are actiniform, furnished 

 with numerous pinnate tentacula, in the centre of which is the polygonal 



Madrepora plantaginea (Lamarck), 



mouth. In Lobophyllia, the tentacula are cylindrical, the cells 

 conical, sometimes elongated and sinuous, with a sub-circular opening 

 terminating the few branches of the polyp, which is fixed, turbinate, 

 and striated. The Plantain Madrepore, Madrepora plantaginea 

 (Lamarck), is an interesting species, the polyps presenting them- 

 selves, as in Fig. 71, in tufts, with slender and prolific branches. 



