Characters: Colonies are spherical, columnar, hillocky or flat and may be several metres across. Corallites are evenly distributed and conical, with thick walls and small openings. Costae are equal and well developed. Those of adjacent corallites do not join. A crown of paliform lobes is usually clearly visible.
Colour: Uniform brown or green.
Similar species: Does not resemble other Favia and growth-form alone makes this species distinctive underwater. Montastrea species all have larger corallites and extratentacular budding. Of these, M. salebrosa is most similar but forms massive colonies and has corallites with numerous closely compacted corallites. See also Plesiastrea versipora, which also has extratentacular budding.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments where water movement is strong.
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