Branches pale yellowish-green with brownish apices. Apices sometimes recurved to one side. Branching trichotomous or tetrachotomous. Outer surface dull and fibrose lacking a cortex. Thallus with usnic acid (KC+ Yellow) and usually fumarprotocetraric acid (P+ red).Common in northern temperate forests on sandy soil, bogs, and soil over rock outcrops. This specimen was collected from the base of an eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in the secondary succession forest area.