Endocoelantheae with the thick body usually expanded above and then
drawn out into lobes which are typically 4 or 8 in number. Sometimes there
are small nematocyst batteries in the ectoderm of the column. Tentacles
numerous, simple, or thickened on their aboral sides, 2 siphonoglyphs.
Mesenteries numerous, not divisible into macro- and microcnemes, many are
perfect. The later ones are arranged either cyclically or bilaterally,
and the partners of a pair may be equal or unequal. Retractors weak. All
stronger mesenteries fertile.
Definitions and contained taxa are those of Oscar Carlgren as published in 1949 : Kungl Svenska Vetenskapsakadamiens Handlingar, Series 4, Volume 1, Number 1
Electronic version made possible by NSF grant DEB95-21819 in the PEET program to D. G. Fautin.