Thallus pendent, subpendent or prostrate, usually 7-15(-20) cm long, branching isotomic-dichotomous, frequent from base, angles between dichotomies acute or obtuse and rounded, occasionally with short, perpendicular, lateral spinulose branches, branches terete, even, 0.2-0.3 mm diam., at base, main branches 0.1-0.2 mm diam., tapering towards apices, dark bronze-brown to dark brown or blackish, matt or slightly shining. True lateral spinules absent. Soralia absent. Pseudocyphellae sparse or absent, fusiform, depressed, brownish, 0.5-1 mm long. Apothecia not seen in New Zealand material. Chemistry: cortex K-, C-, KC-, Pd-; medulla K-, C-, KC-, Pd-. No substances detected by TLC.