Corals of Hawai'i
Family Poritidae
| Porites |
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| General description: calices 5-sided polygons; well developed septa
and columella give "snowflake" appearance. |
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| Porites compressa - finger coral |
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| Growth form: finger-like branching with porous skeleton; tips of
branches usually blunt or flattened; light-brown to yellow. |
| Fine structure: calices flush with surface; upper septa surface
looks like elevated rods. |
| Habitat: wave-protected areas, 0-50 m. |
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| Porites evermanni |
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| Growth form: resembles P. lobata by forming low, flat-topped
or cube-like lobes with rounded edges; gray, brown, or purple. |
| Fine structure: septa made up of thin plates that form a continuous
porous surface; calyx walls form a ring. |
| Habitat: wave-exposed reef flats. |
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| Porites lobata - lobe coral |
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| Growth form: branches form large lobes, never thin or finger-like;
colonies may be huge, covering several meters or more; olive-green, brown, or blue-gray. |
| Fine structure: calyx sides are membrane-like and elevated into
sharp walls. |
| Habitat: wave-exposed areas, 0-50 m. |
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| Porites rus |
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| Growth form: cylindrical lobes, irregular, or flat plates;
blackish-brown with white, yellow, or gray tips. |
| Fine structure: small, round, shallow calices well separated on the
surface. |
| Habitat: all reef environments, 0-50 m. |
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