Cauliflower Coral

About

Cauliflower Coral (Pocillopora fungiformis) is a rare find in the hobby, native to the shallow reef zones off Madagascar in the Western Indian Ocean, where it grows in high-energy environments regularly pounded by strong wave action. In the wild, mature colonies can spread impressively wide, starting as an encrusting base before throwing up upright, near-cylindrical branches that flatten out toward their tips. Those branches bifurcate as they grow, giving large colonies a bold, architectural look. The verrucae, the small warty projections characteristic of pocilloporids, are irregularly shaped and distributed, and tend to be more developed on the upper surfaces of angled branches. Coloration in the wild runs to a greenish-brown, though aquarium lighting can shift the appearance somewhat. Given its origin in surge-swept shallows, this coral is accustomed to vigorous water movement and intense light, and you will want to replicate both in captivity. It is classed as intermediate in difficulty, making it a reasonable next step for a reef keeper who has already had success with more forgiving SPS corals. Because of its narrow natural range, it is not commonly encountered in the trade, so finding a healthy, aquacultured specimen is worth the extra effort.