Plexaura homomalla
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| Plexaura homomalla | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Plexauridae |
| Genus: | Plexaura |
| Species: | P. homomalla |
| Binomial name | |
| Plexaura homomalla | |
Plexaura homomalla, commonly known as the black sea rod or Caribbean sea whip, is a species of gorgonian-type octocoral in the family Plexauridae. It is widely distributed in the Caribbean from the Florida Keys to the northern coast of Venezuela. P. homomalla contains the bioactive lipid prostaglandin A2 15-acetate methyl ester at about 3% of total wet weight.
P. homomalla forms a bushy or candelabra-like colony of upright branches. It has a tendency to branch in a single plane with a few dichotomous forks, but mostly bears lateral branches. It grows to a height of about 35 cm (14 in) and has two forms; P. h. forma kuekenthali is taller and slimmer, with narrow terminal branches, and P. h. forma homomalla is shorter with more robust terminal branches. The central stalk and branches are black or dark brown, and the polyps are cream-coloured, yellow, or pale brown. The calyces from which the polyps protrude are typically not projecting, but may be slightly raised above the surface of the coral.[2][3][4]