The sea pens (Pennatulacea) and blue coral (Helioporacea) continue to be assigned separate orders, whereas the current order Alcyonacea was historically represented by four orders: Alcyonacea, Gorgonacea, Stolonifera and Telestacea.
The sea fans (Pennatulacea) and blue coral (Helioporacea) continue to be assigned individual orders, whereas the current order Alcyonacea was historically composed of four distinct groups: Alcyonacea, Gorgonacea, Stolonifera, and Telestacea.