Hemicorallium

Diagnosis. Sclerites of cortex numerous, regular capstans, often modified with six, seven or eight radii; or as double clubs (only some species), crosses and opera glasses; long spindles present in tentacles. Without axial pits bearing beaded rims beneath autozooids. Autozooids prominent, non-retractile (when contracted cannot fully retract into cortex) and ovate-cylindrical, usually distributed on one side of colony.

Etymology. Bayer (1956 b) stated that the name Corallium " is an old name of dubious origin, going back to the ancient Greeks, classically applied to the red coral of commerce, the ' true red stony coral'. "