Characters: Colonies are massive and usually flattened or hillocky. Polyps are cerioid, with thick walls. Columellae are small and are surrounded by a crown of tall paliform lobes. Septa are straight, with a neat appearance.
Colour: Usually brown or dull green becoming dark in deep water. Oral discs are usually cream but may be bright green.
Similar Species: Goniastrea aspera and G. peresi, which have smaller corallites. See also Favites russelli, which is usually subplocoid, has smaller corallites, relatively irregular septa and smaller paliform lobes.
Habitat: Most reef environments.
Abundance: Usually uncommon.
Taxonomic Note: Placed in genus Coelastrea by Huang, Benzoni, Fukami et al. (2014). However, this genus is a synonym of Platygyra.
Taxonomic References: Veron, Pichon and Wijsman-Best (1977); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
