Thallus forming rosettes, upper surface mineral-grey, lobes curving up to a brown tip. the tips of the lobes rupture forming lip-shaped soralia. Lower surface black often brown at tips. Cortex contains atranorin (K+ pale yellow); medulla contains physodic acid (KC+red), 3-hydroxyphysodic acid (K+slow reddish brown) and protocetraric acids (P+ orange-red).Found on trees and occasionally on rock, though not commonly. This species is found in both the climax and secondary succession forest areas. The specimen pictured above was collected from climax forest area and taken from an eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).