Thallus to 3.5 cm tall. Pseudopodetia simple or sparingly branched, tapering from base to apex, decorticate and rather pruinose. Phyllocladia on short, thick stems, rounded peltate, becoming warted-convolute with a prominent dark greenish-grey centre and pale margins, small and crowded at apices of pseudopodetia, larger and more dispersed towards base of pseudopodetia. Cephalodia ± sessile, infrequent, dark green, black or brown, rather amorphous, gelatinous, shining, clustered at base of phyllocladia towards base of pseudopodetia. Apothecia rare in New Zealand material, mainly at apices of pseudopodetia, to 1 mm diam., disc pale brown with a concolorous prominent margin when young, occluded at maturity. Ascospores 3-5(-6)-septate, (25-)30-50(-55) × 2.5-3.5 µm. Chemistry: Atranorin and stictic acid; ± norstictic acid.