Thallus fruticose, erect, caespitose, decumbent, subpendent or pendent, branches generally terete but becoming somewhat compressed, angular and faveolate in a few species, not becoming markedly expanded and dorsiventrally compressed, brown to dark brown or black. True lateral spinules with constricted base arising at right angles to the main stem in some species, absent in others. Isidia absent but isidiiform spinules arising in tufts from soralia in a few species. Soralia absent or abundant, tuberculate or fissural sometimes bearing sprouts of secondary branches or tufts of isidiiform spinules. Pseudocyphellae absent to abundant, usually rather sparse and inconspicuous, elongate and spiralling around the main stems in a few species, fusiform, white, yellowish or brownish, depressed in most species but somewhat raised in a few, not becoming sorediate or bearing spinules. Apothecia lateral, sometimes appearing geniculate, rare or unknown in many species, frequent to common in others, thalline exciple concolorous with the thallus, becoming excluded in most species, margins ciliate in a few species, disc reddish-brown to dark brown, rarely white, never black, sometimes yellowish-pruinose. Asci clavate, thick-walled, 8-spored. Ascospores ellipsoid, lacking a distinct hyaline epispore, colourless at maturity, simple. Pycnidia rare.