Primary squamules disappearing, 2-5 mm long and broad, irregularly lobed, crenate, ascending, upper surface grey-green, lower side white, sorediate or not. Podetia arising from surface of primary squamules or dying at base, 3-6 cm tall, to 2.5 mm diam., repeatedly dichotomously branching, branches cylindrical, dilating slightly at axils, axils open or closed, apices usually subulate, partly or entirely isidiate-sorediate, or with minute, spreading and appressed or peeling squamules, apices subulate, granular-sorediate or verrucose-granular, squamulose or not. Cortex ± areolate, becoming decorticate, interspaces dull, white, whitish-glaucescent or ashy-olive or ashy-bluish and variegated. Apothecia small, dark brown, sometimes on corymbose branchlets at tips of podetia. Chemistry: Cortex K-, KC-, Pd+ red. Fumarprotocetraric, ± ursolic acids.