Thallus foliose, lobate, loosely attached, 2-6 cm diam., spreading or in ± caespitose cushions. Lobes narrow, 0.5-2 mm wide, dichotomously or trichotomously branched, ± imbricate, entangled centrally, apices free, ascending, margins entire, black, shining. Upper surface yellowish-green, smooth, shining, isidia, maculae and soredia absent. Lower surface black, matt, wrinkled-papillate, naked at margins, sparsely rhizinate centrally. Rhizines black or dark brown, simple. Apothecia rare, sessile, 2-4 mm diam., subconcave to plane, matt, smooth, margins entire or subcrenate, concolorous with thallus, thalline exciple smooth. Pycnidia common in fertile plants, minute, black, punctiform. Chemistry: Cortex K-; medulla K+ yellow → red, C-, KC+ red, Pd+ orange. Norstictic, salazinic and usnic acids.