Characters: Colonies have an encrusting or laminar base, with irregular column-like branches. Coenosteum ridges on branches form the distinctive flame-shaped pattern illustrated.
Colour: Yellowish- or greenish-brown, usually with pale coenosteum ridges and plate margins.
Similar Species: Montipora vietnamensis and M. cebuensis. Colonies are sometimes similar to M. foliosa except that coenosteum ridges are more prominent. Similar to M. undata, but forms distinctive columnar colonies with vertical ridges of fused coenosteum.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments, especially lagoons.
Abundance: Uncommon but distinctive.
Taxonomic Note: Difficult to distinguish from some other species, especially Montipora undata, where they do not occur together.
Taxonomic References: Nemenzo (1967); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
