Thompson, J., 1997. American Arctic Lichens: The Microlichens.
Thallus black, areolate, areolae irregular, constricted, chinky and rough; with black hypothalline margin, somewhat radiate. Apothecia adnate with narrowed base, shining black, at first and persistently flat, with shining entire margin, becoming convex; exciple with exterior K+ blue, interior hyaline; hypothecium hyaline; epithecium blue-brown, dark; hymenium 75 μm, upper part blue, turning violet with HN03, blue with KOH; paraphyses conglutinate, slightly branched, tips thickened; spores 5-8 x 3.5-5 μm (Lynge 1928).
Reactions: 1—, K—; exciple violet parts blue with K; exciple and blue parts of hymenium violet with HN03.
This species is found growing on acid rocks in the open. It is reported from Novaya Zemlya, Greenland, Siberia, and Spitzbergen. It occurs in northern Canada.
This species is similar to L. garovaglii, differing in the smaller spores, the hymenial color, and the reactions of the exciple and the upper hymenium.