Corallum tall, very crowded mass of complexly coaslescent, slender stems and branches; living portion around 16 cm high; dichotomous branching discernible despite crowding and coalescence. Branches divergent, 3.5 mm average diameter; oftentimes with low lateral branchlets; very gradually attenuate.

Terminal branchlets very slender, delicate, up to 1 cm long before branching; 1.5 mm diameter at base.
Corallites in 5-6 rows; 8-9 to a cm; flush with surface; distal side appearing very slightly elevated in some corallites because of a few taller fringing spines not by elevation of wall. Calice oval, shallow; diameter 0.6 x 0.5 mm; the fringing spines as high as those of perithecal areas.

Septa absent. Columella a thick longitudinal ridge sometimes without appreciable projection, especially in older calicles.

Perithehcal areas dense. Spines low, towards base evenly disposed; towards terminal portion, arranged into rows which extend far own on the branches but without ridges.

Remarks:This coral is very abundant in the calm water of Puerto Galera Bay where it grows into large masses. The color in life is blue or yellow or brown. Its delicate appearance distinguishes it easily from the other inhabitants of the reefs.

It is quite close to S. caliendrum. Aside from its long slender branches, it differs from the older species by its shallow calices, absence of septa and the nature of the columella.

Source: Nemenzo F (1964) Systematic studies on Philippine shallow water scleractinians: V. Suborder Astrocoeniida (Part). Nat. Appli. Sci. Bull. 18: 193-223. 12 pls.