Frag to propagate?

[asylumdown]

I would tend to agree with this, especially on my stag corals. Anytime I break them off, the point of the break usually forms three or four fast growing branches. I've often wondered what biochemical cues corals use to guide their growth and form development - if they're like plants that have meristems which emit inhibitory hormones that reduce in concentration the farther you get from the active growing point (which is how conifers get their christmas tree shape), or if there's something else going on.

The fact that as soon as a terminal node or branch on a coral is severed, the wound suddenly develops several new growth points makes me think that there is some sort of signal being sent by the growth tip or terminal point of the coral that dictates how, when, and where branching occurs, likely through an inhibitory process. That inhibitory process very likely is species specific and is probably responsible for the macro scale growth form of different species.