﻿TUBERCULATE MONTIPOR^. 133 



110. Montipora phrygiana. 



Madrepwa phnjgiana, Esper, Forts., ii. (1798) p. 10, pi. Ixxxiv. 



Non Montipora plmjgiana, Milne-Edwards and Haime, Ann. d. Sci. Nat., (3°) xvi, (1851) p. 61 

 ( = TIf. angulata). 



Description. — Corallum consists of a cluster "of narrow leaves, lobate, irregularly twisted 

 and longitudinally folded so as to form a system of ridges and furrows, these latter being equally 

 marked on both upper and lower sides (hence the corallum was probably thin). 



The calicles are very scattered but conspicuous, the six prominent and thick septa making 

 the aperture markedly star-shaped. The secondaries irregularly developed. 



The most marked peculiarities are presented by the ccjenenchymatous tubercles (?). These 

 cover the whole surface and are closely packed ; they are granulated and toothed on both 

 sides. They are of many shapes, leaf-like, and either arranged in parallels or at right angles 

 to one another, or else round or oval. These oval tubercles are often arranged in star-like 

 groups of all sizes, consisting of 3, 4, 5 and 6 tubercles, ranged radially either round a central 

 tubercle or else with no central tubercle. This highly complex arrangement of the tubercles 

 covers the whole surface, making it look like embroidery with the edges fringed, hence the 

 name " gesticJcte Sternhoralle." 



The record of this coral, which Esper declared almost surpassed all other corals in its 

 marvellous structure, deserves repetition, even though there is some doubt as to whether it is 

 a Montiporan. Milne-Edwards and Haime assumed that it was a true Montiporan, but 

 identified it with Lamarck's Porites " angulosa " = angulata (see p. 63). This identification 

 cannot, however, be accepted. The arrangement of the tubercles in raised star-like groups is 

 a feature on which Esper lay special emphasis ; Milne-Edwards and Haime pass over this 

 entirely. Esper declared that the coral came nearest to Ms Maclrepora contigua, which appears 

 to have been a Porites. 



The following characters seem, to indicate that the coral must, have been a true Monti- 

 pore : (1) The shape and size of the calicles ; (2) the great abundance of the coenenchyma ; 

 (3) the rising of this coenenchyma into what appear to be tubercles. On the other hand, 

 if this reasoning is correct this must be reckoned as one of the most remarkable of all 

 Montiporan types. In the flat, plate-like character of the tubercles it reminds us of M. scutata, 

 in which the scale-like tubercles may be closely packed; 



Its locality was unknown to Esper, who adds, however, that it was probably from the 

 East Indian seas. 



111. Montipora informis. (PL XXVII. fig. 3 ; PL XXXIV. fig. 3.) 



Description. — Corallum encrusting, with free, generally drooping edges, 3 to 4 mm. thick, 

 and without supporting epitheca. The upper surface rises into shapeless angular masses-, 

 pointed and jagged ; these incorporate by encrustation foreign organisms. Other upgrowths are 

 nearly flat, bifrontal laminae or folds, sloping outwards from the faces of the drooping margins. 



