Thallus orbicular to spreading, closely attached, 5-12 cm diam., corticolous or lignicolous. Lobes small (to 5 mm wide) confluent, subirregular, rounded, margins shallowly incised. Upper surface plane, shining, wrinkled centrally, yellowish-green (usnic acid in cortex), sorediate. Soralia large, rounded, pustular, densely crowded centrally, soredia very fine, dense, farinose, yellow. Lower surface black, shining, with a shining black or brown naked marginal zone. Rhizines simple, numerous, black or pale. Apothecia (not seen in New Zealand material) rare, sessile, 1-4 mm diam., thalline exciple pustular. Chemistry: Cortex K+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow → red, C-, KC+ red, Pd+ orange. Salazinic acid and atranorin.