 Cauliflower Coral. Photo http://openwaterpedia.com |  Rice coral. Photo: Florent Charpin |
Coral polyp. Credit: Smithsonian Cauliflower and rice. Sounds good, right? Surprise - these are the names given to two of Hawaii's most common corals. Let's start our tasting with the cauliflower coral: Pocillopora meandrina, or ko'a to Hawaiians. It exists in a variety of habitats, but is a dominant coral in areas of heavy surge. The colony forms a symmetrical head about 12-15 inches in size, and color can range from creamy brown to pink. The "florets" of the cauliflower coral are covered in little warty bumps. That texture made it a popular sandpaper for early Hawaiians.
Next on the menu is the rice coral, Montipora capitata, which prefers calmer water habitats, such as Kane'ohe Bay. It can assume a variety of forms. Typically, the shaded colonies form large plates that look as though they are speckled with rice, while those exposed to more sun tend to be spiky.
Just what is coral? It's a colony made up of individual animals called coral polyps. They are sort of like mini sea anemones, and are connected to each other. As dissolved minerals drift over the coral, the polyps remove them and deposit them as calcium carbonate, forming the rocky skeleton.
Next on the menu is the rice coral, Montipora capitata, which prefers calmer water habitats, such as Kane'ohe Bay. It can assume a variety of forms. Typically, the shaded colonies form large plates that look as though they are speckled with rice, while those exposed to more sun tend to be spiky.
Just what is coral? It's a colony made up of individual animals called coral polyps. They are sort of like mini sea anemones, and are connected to each other. As dissolved minerals drift over the coral, the polyps remove them and deposit them as calcium carbonate, forming the rocky skeleton.
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