Primary squamules small to medium, 0.5-4.5 mm, laciniate to ± palmate, margins entire and slightly thickened below, to ± incised-notched, upper surface pale glaucous-grey, lower surface, white, arachnoid, not sorediate. Podetia terete, 10-30(-40) mm tall, 0.5-1.5 mm diam., scyphiferous, cups flaring abruptly 2-3.5 mm diam., shallow ± deflexed, margins crenate-lacerate, with pycnidia, or rarely secondary cups or apothecia, 1-4(-6) ranks of cups arising from centre of basal cup. Cortex ± continuous, areolate, glaucous-olive or brownish or greyish, rarely fissured, occasionally squamulose. Apothecia brown-black, rather rare, peltate 0.5- 1.2 mm diam., on short stalks at margins of cups. Chemistry: Cortex K+ yellow, C-, KC-, Pd+ red. Atranorin and protocetraric acid.