Thallus crustose, epiphloeodal or hypophloeodal, cortex when present loosely organised to dense, smooth to roughened or cracked, rarely splitting and exfoliating, without a prothallus, medulla usually evenly distributed in a layer 2-4 cells thick (10-30 µm). Apothecia somewhat immersed, to raised or strongly emergent, the thalline wall incurved to erect to recurved. Exciple free (detached) or rarely fused (attached), the inner face covered with short periphysoids. Pore often broad and gaping. Ascospores colourless or brown, transversely septate or muriform, I+ blue or I-, 1, 2 or 8 per ascus.