Characters: Colonies form corymbose plates or irregular clumps. Branchlets are tall, straight or irregular and are slightly tapered. Colonies exposed to wave action have compacted branchlets; those in protected habitats have irregular branches. Axial corallites are prominent. Radial corallites are short and uniform in size. Septa are short and numerous. Tentacles may be partly extended during the day.
Colour: Uniform grey.
Similar Species: Acropora latistella, which has prominent radial corallites. See also A. dendrum.
Habitat: Shallow reef slopes.
Abundance: Sometimes common.
Taxonomic Note: Although the species illustrated here is undoubtedly distinct, there is some doubt over the designation of this name. Wallace (1999) considered the holotype of this species to be similar to A. florida or A. sarmentosa as indeed its basal structure is. Peripheral branches are close to colonies illustrated here. As illustrated, it forms part of a group of similar but usually well-defined species including Acropora convexa and A. millepora.
Taxonomic References: Veron (2000a); Fenner (1993);
Identification Guides: Nishihira and Veron (1995);
