Primary squamules disappearing, 2-5 mm long, crenate or laciniate, ascending to erect, flat or involute, sparse to abundant, upper surface yellowish or pale glaucescent, lower surface white, brown to black at base. Podetia 1-4(-5) cm tall, dying at base, yellow-green, yellow-grey or pale grey, ± densely peeling-squamulose especially towards base, becoming corticate-granular or ± decorticate and paler towards apices with translucent white or pale yellow areas, esorediate. Podetia subulate, or with narrow or often irregular cups. Apothecia red, rare, on cup margins or proliferations. Chemistry: Cortex K-, KC+ yellow, Pd-. Squamatic and ± usnic acids.