Characters: Colonies are massive to encrusting. Corallites are in short valleys with acute walls. Septo-costae are generally in three orders and are widely spaced. Columellae are poorly developed or absent.
Colour: Yellow-brown or pinkish-brown, sometimes mottled.
Similar Species: Pavona varians, which has less well developed ridges (collines) and usually two orders of septa. See also Gardineroseris planulata.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments.
Abundance: Usually uncommon but distinctive.
Taxonomic References: Veron and Pichon (1980); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Sheppard and Sheppard (1991); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Pillay, Terashima, Venkatasami et al. (2002); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);