Characters: Colonies are columnar, club-shaped and/or laminar and may form colonies several metres across or extensive single species stands. Columns divide but do not fuse. Corallites have thick walls and are well defined. Septo-costae are of two very distinct orders. Columellae are short or absent.
Colour: Uniform pale grey, cream or brown.
Similar species: Laminar colonies may resemble Pavona bipartita. Corallites are like those of P. duerdeni.
Habitat: Occurs commonly in habitats exposed to currents.