Description. In total six upright, unbranched colonies were collected. They are digitiform, symmetrical with a wide base tapering distally towards the rounded apex of the polyparium (Fig. 2 A, B) and were always growing in pairs, arising from a common, polyp-free, one mm thick, encrusting holdfast. The colonies vary in size, but are in general very similar in shape, colour, arrangement of polyps and sclerite composition. The polyp-free basal portion of each colony is very short and occupies only 10 % of the total colony length. Polyps are monomorphic, large, retractile, quite numerous, evenly distributed over the colony and are translucent when fully extended and the coenenchymal mounds associated with the polyps are narrow. Pair one consists of one colony that is 31 mm in total length, with an apex 4 mm in diameter and a base 10 mm in diameter, together with a smaller colony that is 5 mm in total length with an apex 4 mm in diameter and a base 9 mm in diameter. Pair two consists of one colony that is 25 mm in total length, with an apex 5 mm in diameter and a base 10 mm in diameter, together with a smaller colony that is 13 mm in total length with an apex 3 mm in diameter and a base 6 mm in diameter. Pair three consists of one colony that is 19 mm in total length, with an apex 5 mm in diameter and a base 8 mm in diameter, together with a smaller colony that is 9 mm in total length with an apex 5 mm in diameter and a base 7 mm in diameter. In the surface of the polyparium, including the coenenchymal mounds, the majority of sclerites are 6, 7 - and 8 - radiates and rodlets 0.04 – 0.08 mm long and crosses 0.03 – 0.07 mm in diameter (Fig. 3). The smaller radiates are tuberculate capstan-like forms and the longer rodlets are essentially 8 - radiates with more distant prominences and a smooth, often long, shaft. The stalk surface is densely spiculated with irregular radiates 0.05 – 0.08 mm long, crosses 0.05 – 0.08 mm long and rodlets (Fig. 4 A). The interior sclerites of the polypary are 6 - and 7 - radiate capstans 0.04 – 0.09 mm long, crosses 0.06 – 0.09 mm in diameter, and elongated rod-like sclerites 0.10 – 0.11 mm long (Fig. 4 B). The interior of the stalk coenenchyme is populated with sclerites consisting of rod-like forms 0.10 – 0.11 mm long with a smooth shaft and large warty prominences, and robust crosses around 0.09 mm in diameter are also occasionally present (Fig. 4 C). Polyp sclerites are absent. Colour. In situ the colonies were uniformly bright rusty orange with small, bright, light orange, rounded coenenchymal mounds. The polyp-free encrusting holdfast was uniformly rusty red. The polyps were transparent with bright white tentacles. The colour did not change on deck or in alcohol. In preserved specimens the surface and internal coenenchymal sclerites are brownish dark red to pale-ochre, the sclerites of the polyp mounds are paleochre, and the interior coenenchyme is pink. Habitat. Steep, forward reef slope extending up to the reef crest at 14 metres. On the crest of the slope were small coral outcrops and the underlying base rock was covered with encrusting corals and soft coral communities, dominated by Sinularia and Sarcophyton as well as several species of gorgonian. The slope was dissected by narrow surge grooves with vertical sides marked by caves and ledges extending to 20 metres. A small group of Parasphaerasclera grayi colonies was found attached to the wall in an overhang at 12 metres depth amongst other scattered soft corals.
