This species is difficult to distinguish from P. wagenaari and P. crucis. Long branches, usually bushy but may branch mainly in one plane. Colonies reach 1 m tall.

Calices of this genus are flush with the surface of the branches, round or slightly oval, but not narrow slits. The calices of this species are not densely packed, such that the gaps between them are greater than their diameters and polyps appear sparse and ’mangy’ compared to P. porosa.