The corallites are large, up to 15 mm (0.6 in) in diameter, with walls composed of closely packed septa with fine teeth.

Another source of energy is the symbiotic dinoflagellates, microscopic algae that live within the coral's tissues and which produce nutrients by photosynthesis.

The coral grows and propagates rapidly in captive reef environments and thrives under lighting and flow conditions that other Mussidae would not survive.

It is best known recently as a "trend coral" that commands high prices in the reef trade that are not related to its rarity, population or accessibility.

In the wild, the chief threat it is likely to face is from predation by coral eating organisms such as parrot fish and starfish and the degradation of its reef habitat.

It may disappear entirely from some degraded reefs and, along with other coral species, is likely to be adversely affected by ocean acidification and climate change.