Isobana (Island Flower) - Isobana (English spelling) Melithaea flabellifera

Japanese: イソバナ(磯花) - イソバナ（英語表記）Melithaea flabellifera

A coelenterate (cnidaria) of the family Isobenthozoa. It is found from central Honshu southwards, growing in colonies on rocky reefs below the low tide line where clean seawater flows quickly. It forms fan-shaped, branching colonies less than 20cm in height and width. The branches branch out many times, sometimes connecting to form a mesh-like structure. The branches come in a wide variety of beautiful colours, including yellow, orange and red. The branches are fragile, as they are made up of alternating horny and calcareous parts connected together. Dry ones are particularly weak, and will crumble with even the slightest touch.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

花虫綱イソバナ科の腔腸動物(刺胞動物)。本州中部以南に分布し，きれいな海水が速く流れる干潮線下の岩礁上に群生する。高さ，幅とも20cm以下の扇状に広がった樹枝状の群体をつくる。枝は何回も分岐し，ときにはそれらが連結して網目状になる。枝の色は変化に富んでいて，黄色，橙色，赤色など非常に美しい。枝は角質の部分と石灰質に富む部分とが交互に連結するのでもろい。とくに乾燥したものは弱く，ちょっと触れただけでも砕ける。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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