Primary squamules persistent 2-5 mm long, 1.0-1.5 mm wide, erect, palmately and pinnately divided, margins lobate-incised or ± nodular, often in dense cushions 4-10 cm diam., dying at base, upper surface flat or convex, scabrid-areolate or smooth, glaucescent or olive-green or grey-green or yellowish-green, minutely white-pubescent or pruinose towards apices. Lower surface arachnoid, white, yellowish-brown or black at base, not sorediate. Podetia 5-25(-30) mm tall, 1.5-3 mm diam., subcylindrical, arising from surface of primary squamules, decorticate below, partly corticate above, granular or squamulose, grey-green or glaucescent, yellow-brown or blackened at base, without soredia or isidia. Cortex discontinuous, squamulose. Apothecia conspicuous, terminal, globular to often confluent-compound, red above, brownish at base, 0.5-4.0 mm diam., sometimes single, often aggregated. Chemistry: Cortex K+ deep yellow, C-, KC-, Pd+ orange-yellow. Thamnolic and decarboxythamnolic acids and a yellow pigment.