Corallum ramose, consisting of subcylindrical branches forming hemispherical head, 12 cm across, 6 cm high; its creeping base partly covering a colony of Favia and the shell of Spondylus. Branches coalescent, either side by side (longitudinally) or at points of contact among branchlets; expanded at upper portion, then subdivided, often dichotomously, into a number of flattened or cylindrical branchlet with truncate or conical (blunt) apices. One branch 8 x 7 mm at base; one branchlet with truncate apex 14 mm high, 4 x 3.5 mm across at its midpoint, another branchlet with conical apex 13 mm high, 4 x 4 mm across. Many branchlets bifurcating. While flabellate arrangement of branches and branchlets recognizable, presence of divergent members often disturbs its regularity.
Except short distance below apex, surface studded with tiny swellings, each harboring a gastropore. Dactylopores set around base of swelling, few scattered among cyclosystems. Gastropores fairly visible with the unaided eye, rendered more so by elevated position; dactylopores minute, requiring lens to locate.
This species resembles M. tenera but for tiny elevations bearing the gastropores and the less organized or less expanded palmate portions.
This is named after Dr. Armando de la Cruz.
