Palm Lettuce Coral

Appearance

This species grows in thick, leaf- and spine-like structures likebowls or labyrinths. The colonies start as a spiny rosetta which continuously grows and extends numerous irregular, upright projections.
Colonies never have extended valleys. Instead they form irregular clusters of fluted thin laminae with exsert costae forming upwardly projecting spires and short walls. Columellae are weakly developed. Septa are smooth or have small teeth.
Colour: Uniform or mottled brown, grey or green.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific from Maledives to Fiji and Japan.

Habitat

It preferably grows in protected places in the reef but can also be found in muddy, turbulent waters.

Food

The polyps live in symbiosis with zooxanthellae and are mostly nourrished by photosynthesis of these unicellular algae.