Characters: Colonies are hemispherical to flat. Valleys are sinuous or straight, averaging 35 millimetres wide and are usually separated by a narrow groove. Walls have a thick fleshy appearance. Septa are thick and have large teeth. Columellae are usually in two rows.
Colour: Brown, green or red, usually with distinctly contrasting valley and wall colours.
Similar Species: Symphyllia radians, which has smaller, straighter valleys. See also S. hassi. Lobophyllia flabelliformis can look similar underwater.
Habitat: Exposed upper reef slopes.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic Note: Readily separated from other Symphyllia in situ. Collected specimens often do not have the diagnostic two rows of columellae centres.
Taxonomic References: Veron and Pichon (1980); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
