Ricordea florida is a coral without a skeleton, having the same internal anatomical structure as corals of the order Scleractinia. The body of the coral is small and cylindrical. The basal end resembles a flat disk that functions as a foot. The apical end is the oral disk which functions as one or more mouths. These mouths are centered amid short rounded tentacles bearing cnidoctios, whose sting contains paralytic neurotoxins. The sting is used to ingest prey more easily via the gastrovascular cavity, or as a defensive mechanism to evade enemies. The stinging ability of this species is lower than in most corals.