The colour "coral"

[KBennett]

I had this discussion today with my wife:
Why is it that there are no corals that actually come in the colour "coral"?
I cant think of one that is quite that orangish colour. The closest ive seen is probably orange digitata, but thats not exactly the coral that most people would think of first...

 

[AdInfinitum]

It refers to the pink to red colored coral skeletons that have been harvested for centuries for jewellery and carvings from the Mediterranean and off the coasts of China and Japan.

The vast majority of coral harvested both legally and illegally is for the jewellery trade and the value is based on the color of the interior of the skeletons when polished or heat treated.

 

[KBennett]

Wow, thanks. I never knew that.

 

[sunnykita]

I did not know that either ! Thanks for informing us !