Corallum irregularly branching; living portion 4-7 cm high, separated from dead basal portion by thin white film. Stems around 8 mm diameter at base, usually expanded into plate at level of branching; coalescent. Some terminal branches tapering but most have flat, expanded tips preparatory to division.

Calicles quite evenly disposed, 0.5 mm or little more in diameter; about a mm apart. On lower portion of corallum, calices surrounded by distinct ring; on upper portion, ring not distinguishable.

Septa just reaching half radius points, narrower in some calices. Directives not very distinct at mouth but widen to meet each other at bottom of calicinal foss. One or two tiny secondaries occasionally present. Interseptal loculi petaloid, distinct in lower calices.

Intercalicinal areas relatively dense; reticulum coarse, threads wider than elongated meshes; vermiculate on old portions. Spines fine, sharp or splitpointed. Vertical papillae low, abundant towards apical portion, resembling lower lips to calicles, becoming mere projections lower down, finally lost towards base of corallum where calicles surrounded merely by their slightly elevated walls.

Remarks:This coral is very close to M.gracilis. It can be recognized from the older species by its septa which are not merely granules, the second cycle not always present, and absence of papillae developing into branches.

Source:Nemenzo F (1967) Systematic studies on Philippine shallow water scleractinians: VI. Suborder Astrocoeniida (Montipora and Acropora). Part I - Text. Nat. Appli. Sci. Bull. 20 (1- 2): 1-141.