Characters: Colonies are corymbose clumps or cushions, with cushions occurring either singly or in groups. Main branches are irregular or composed of branchlets. Branchlets are of uniform length and spacing. Axial corallites are short and tubular. Radial corallites are arranged in a neat rosette and are rasp-like.
Colour: Always a uniform grey-brown.
Similar Species: Acropora florida if branches are not well developed and Acropora tenuis, which has pointed branchlet tips and less rasp-like radial corallites. The rosette arrangement of radial corallites is similar to that of A. hyacinthus when viewed from above.
Habitat: Upper reef slopes.
Abundance: Common, especially in the western Indian Ocean.
Taxonomic Note: Considered a synonym of Acropora sarmentosa by Wallace (1999) and Wallace, Done and Muir (2012). It is closer to A. florida in growth form although these species are readily separated where they occur together..
Taxonomic References: Nemenzo (1967); Veron (2000a);
