Acalycigorgia

Diagnosis. Polyps not functionally differentiated into anthocodia and anthostele; contractile but not retractile within common coenenchyme; tentacles fold over oral disk in contraction. Polyps similar to those of Acanthogorgia (without crown of strongly projecting spines, however), but polyps can be short and verruciform to prominent, tall and cylindrical, not clavate. Sclerites of polyp walls large spindles, very conspicuous; commonly arranged more or less distinctly en chevron in eight long, longitudinal double rows, but distal ones project little or not at all. Distal ends of sclerites around tentacle bases not specifically differentiated as spines, though the tips may project somewhat around polyps' apex. Polyps are without suture separating tentacular / anthocodial from subtentacular sclerites. Sclerites of polyp body gradually merge with those of tentacle bases, which are not abruptly smaller; coenenchymal sclerites with tubercles of inner and outer sides similarly developed; inner layer of coenenchyme with more or less abundant radiates.