Primary squamules persistent, scattered or in depressed mats, small, to 2 mm long, entire, to crenate to sublobate, upper surface glaucescent to olivaceous to olive-grey, lower surface white, dark at base, esorediate or apices slightly granular-sorediate. Podetia growing from upper surface of primary squamules, slender, cylindrical, 4-10 mm tall rarely to 45 mm, unbranched or sparingly branched above. Cortex variable, smooth, greyish, to indistinctly areolate, areolae often separated by narrow, opaque or ± translucent bands, often granular-sorediate above, sometimes also squamulose. Apothecia red, prominent, terminal, convex. Chemistry: K-, KC+ orange, Pd-. Barbatic, 4-O-demethylbarbatic, ± didymic and ± usnic acids.