Corals of Hawai'i
Family Pocilloporidae
| Pocillopora |
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| General description: branching colonies; calices crowded together
on wart-like projections (verrucae) and connected by a network of common walls,
ridges, seams, or grooves. |
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| Pocillopora damicornis - lace coral |
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| Growth form: finely branched with many divisions; branches not
thicker than a pencil; colonies small, up to 15 cm; bushy-shaped; light to dark brown. |
| Fine structure: septa and columella poorly developed; walls of
terminal calices flare outward. |
| Habitat: protected areas in shallow water. |
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| Pocillopora eydouxi - elkhorn coral |
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| Growth form: large (up to 80 cm) with thick, cylindrical, vertical
branches that lack divisions; brown. |
| Fine structure: calices have distinct septa and columella. |
| Habitat: wave-exposed areas, generally deeper than 10 m. |
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| Pocillopora meandrina - cauliflower coral |
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| Growth form: heavy, leaf-like branches often forked near the end;
brown to pink. |
| Fine structure: septa and columella poorly developed; calyx
irregularly shaped. |
| Habitat: wave-exposed areas, generally shallower than 10 m. |
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