Characters: Colonies are massive to plate-like or encrusing with an uneven surface. Corallites are conical and commonly irregular in shape and size, 2.5-4 mm diameter, formed by extratentacular budding. Septa are in two slightly differing orders or do not form orders. Columellae are well-developed. Walls are composed of thickened septa. Coste are variable but usually well-developed and with well-developed dentations.
Colour: Brown, grey or yellowish-green.
Similar Species: Orbicella annularis is similar with more columnar or nodular colonies and corallites are not conical. Orbicella faveolata has smaller, less exsert corallites and septa in two unequal orders. Paramontastraea salebrosa and Astrea curta have corallites of similar size; the latter has similar morphological variations. See also Favia stelligera.
Habitat: Reef habitats.
Abundance: Common.
Taxonomic Note: Formerly in genus Montastraea.
Taxonomic References: Medina, Weil and Szmant (1999); Budd, Fukami, Smith et al. (2012);
