Thallus 5-7(-10) cm diam., rigid, lobate, attached centrally, margins mainly free. Lobes ± broadly rounded to deeply laciniate, margins partly imbricate, apices rounded or incised, crenulate to sinuous, often subascendent, not isidiate or phyllidiate. Upper surface pale brownish-yellow with greenish tint, to red-brown or dark chocolate brown, ± densely reticulate-faveolate, ridges strongly defined, lacunae deep or shallow, shining, ridges with ± numerous low warts bursting into yellow soredia, often confluent and spreading, usually smaller or lacking at margins. Medulla white. Photobiont blue-green. Lower surface densely tomentose to margins, pale ochraceous-buff at margins, dark brown to blackish centrally, sometimes margins ± reticulate with yellowish-buff ridges and bullae visible. Pseudocyphellae yellow, scattered, sparse to ± frequent, 0.2-0.4 mm diam., ± sunk in tomentum, punctiform near margins. Apothecia rare, 1-2 mm wide, sessile on ridges, disc deep red-brown or blackish, occasionally faintly pruinose, concave to plane, margins thin, pale reddish-brown, ± smooth to wrinkled. Ascospores 1-septate, (18-)22-30 × 5-9(-12) µm. Chemistry: Pulvinic lactone, pulvinic acid, calycin, methyl virensate, 5-chloromethyl-virensate, hopane-6α, 7β-triol, norstictic, constictic and stictic acids. In c. one fifth of specimens examined stictic acid is replaced by salazinic acid (cf. ).