Pachyclavularia violacea (Daisy Polyps) Propagation Guide

Propagating the encrusting daisy/star polyp mat sold as Pachyclavularia violacea by cutting the connecting mat, with notes on Briareum taxonomy.

Overview

Pachyclavularia violacea is an encrusting mat-forming soft coral closely tied to the star polyps of the genus Briareum in the family Briareidae. The name Pachyclavularia violacea is in fact a marketing label that is commonly applied to diverse Briareum specimens, so identification in the trade is unreliable and the genus requires extensive examination to separate species.

Reproductive Mode

Like the star polyps it is sold alongside, this coral forms an encrusting purple mat that spreads over rock, and propagation is asexual by dividing that mat.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

A frag is produced by cutting the encrusting mat between groups of polyps, or by cutting the rock the mat has grown over, and securing the piece to a clean plug or rock until it re-attaches and resumes spreading.

Conditions for Propagation

As a hardy, fast-spreading encrusting coral of the Briareidae, frags settle readily under the lighting, flow and water parameters recorded for this species in the knowledge base, with the polyps reopening over the mat once the piece attaches.

Common Challenges

Vigorous encrusting growth lets the mat overrun neighbouring corals, so placement should allow the mat to be contained. Because the name covers several distinct specimens, two corals sold under it can look and behave differently.