Melicerita charlesworthii (Morris, 1843)

Colonies are erect, bifoliate, consisting of single flabellate fronds broadening distally to a width of up to 20 mm. Growth bands may be present, defined by single transverse rows of abnormally long autozooids. Early growth stages are unknown but it is presumed that colonies were rooted during life, with kenozooidal rhizoids anchoring them into a particulate substrate.

Autozooids are small, about 0.35 mm long by 0.32 mm wide, hexagonal in outline shape, clearly defined by their raised boundaries, and arranged in regular transverse rows. The frontal wall is an extensive, slightly depressed, granular cryptocyst lacking opesiules. The opesia is subterminal, kidney shaped, broader than long, about 0.09 mm long by 0.14 mm wide, with a concave proximal edge. Denticles are present in each of the proximolateral corners of the opesia, up to 20 µm in length and may slope somewhat inwardly. Set back slightly from the distal rim of the opesia is an arch of calcification with a small denticle at each end. Some autozooids have a small pore in the cryptocyst distal of the opesia. Ovicells are immersed, appearing as a flap-like tongue of cryptocyst distal of the opesia and covering the brood chamber. 

Vicarious avicularia are developed at zooid row bifurcations. They are smaller than autozooids, typically longitudinally elliptical in outline shape, sometimes curved and may be oriented slightly obliquely to the overall direction of local colony growth. Most of the avicularian frontal surface is occupied by the opesia. The pivotal bar is uncalcified.