colony

Summary

adj. Colonial a corallum consisting of two or more corallites, the counterpart of which in a living coral consists of two or more polyps and/or stomodaea. In true colonies, the polyps and their corallites have grown by colony increase from a founding polyp and remained attached to each other. In practice, fusion of previously distinct (and presumably genetically similar) polyps can also lead to, or contribute to, colonies, but the true extent to which this occurs is unknown. On the other hand, contiguous non-fused aggregations of previous distinct polyps and corallites, and transient budded juveniles still attached to the parent corallite do not constitute a true colonial condition. See also Cloning, Increase, Mode of Increase, Modular.

Orthography

Not yet available.

Description

Not yet available.

This version was contributed by Ken Johnson on 22-Apr-2008 14:35.