This closer view of the colony shows the polyps (within their hydrothecae) along the two sides of each branch. Notice that the branches are about twice as wide as the hydrothecae are.
Abietinaria inconstans colony, about 8 cm tall, found at 90 m depth in the San Juan Channel. This colony is heavily encrusted with small bryozoans and tubeworms. (Photo by: Dave Cowles, August 2014)
The gonangia arise from the central stalk of a fernlike spray. They release sperm that fertilize retained eggs. These eggs develop into planula larvae which are released.
