Characters: Colonies form hemispherical mounds or are openly branched. Branches are tall and upright, almost cylindrical in section, becoming flattened towards the tip. Verrucae are widely spaced, short and uniform. Outer branches of colonies may be fused.
Colour: Brown with white branch tips.
Similar Species: Pocillopora capitata, which has irregular branches and longer, more irregular verrucae. See also P. verrucosa. At a distance, the species may resemble the non-scleractinian coral Heliopora.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments and rocky foreshores.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Veron (2000a); Veron (2002a);
