Chalices: plating vs encrusting

[legalreefer1]

How do you know which chalices will plate and which will encrust? Are they both capable of either? Pics for reference (from Google).

 

[thamnasteroid]

Chalice corals comprise of species that were formerly in the family Pectiniidae; they are now split up between the families Merulinidae and Lobophylliidae. The Lobophylliid chalices include Echinophyllia, Oxypora, Echinomorpha, and Paraechinophyllia (this one is not found in the coral trade since it's endemic to the western Indian Ocean). The Merulinid chalices include Mycedium and Pectinia. Most chalices will usually encrust, although Oxypora and Mycedium can become plating/foliose. Echinophyllia and Echinomorpha are always encrusting, and Pectinia is always "plating." Echinopora (lamellosa; the only species found in the hobby) are almost always plating/foliose, but I don't consider it a chalice coral, since it was never in Pectiniidae.