''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family

Nephtheidae Nephtheidae is a family of soft corals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are known as carnation corals, tree corals or colt soft corals. They are very attractive and show a wide range of rich and pastel colours including reds, pinks ...

. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is ''

Gersemia loricata ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

''.

Characteristics

Colonies of ''Gersemia'' are arborescent, growing erectly with one main stem. The polyps are most numerous at the branch tips and are unable to retract into the calyces. The walls of the stalk and branches are stiffened with sclerites which are often brightly coloured. Corals in this genus do not contain zooxanthellae, the microalgae

symbionts Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...

found in some other corals.The nephtheid soft coral genus ''Gersemia'' Marenzeller, 1878, with the description of a new species from the northeast Pacific and a review of two additional species (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea)
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Species

The World Register of Marine Species includes the following species in the genus: *''

Gersemia antarctica ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' (Kükenthal, 1902) *''

Gersemia carnea ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' Verrill *''

Gersemia clavata ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' (Danielssen, 1887) *''

Gersemia crassa ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the Family (biology), family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is ''Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Col ...

'' (Danielssen, 1887) *''

Gersemia danielsseni ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' (Studer, 1891) *''

Gersemia fruticosa ''Gersemia fruticosa'' is a species of soft coral in the family Nephtheidae. It is a deep sea species with a boreal distribution and is found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, from off the coast of Delaware northward to Baffin Bay and the Davis St ...

'' Sars, 1860 *''

Gersemia hicksoni ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' (Gravier, 1913) *''

Gersemia japonica ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' (Kükenthal, 1906) *''

Gersemia juliepackardae ''Gersemia juliepackardae'' is a species of soft coral in the family Nephtheidae. It is found in the northeast Pacific Ocean, on seamounts or on the deep ocean bed. The coral is named in honour of Julie Packard, the executive director of the Mont ...

'' Williams & Lundsten, 2009 *''

Gersemia lambi ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' Williams, 2013 *''

Gersemia liltvedi ''Pseudonephthea'' is a genus of corals containing the only species ''Pseudonephthea liltvedi'', or the stalked cauliflower soft coral. It is a cnidarian that is endemic to the coast of South Africa. Description Colonies, which may consist of ...

'' (Verseveldt & Williams, 1988) *''

'' von Marenzeller, 1878 *''

Gersemia marenzelleri ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' Kükenthal, 1906 *''

Gersemia mirabilis ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is '' Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Colonies of ''Gersem ...

'' (Danielssen, 1887) *'' Gersemia rubiformis'' (Ehrenberg, 1834) *''

Gersemia studeri ''Gersemia'' is a genus of soft corals in the Family (biology), family Nephtheidae. Species in this genus are found in cold temperate and polar seas at depths ranging from to over . The type species is ''Gersemia loricata''. Characteristics Col ...

'' Verrill *'' Gersemia uvaeformis'' (May, 1900)

References

Nephtheidae Octocorallia genera {{octocorallia-stub