Primary thallus granular, gray-green with the brown cephalodia scattered and also on base of podetia; the thallus evanescent. Pseudopodetia stout, irregularly to unbellately branched above, to 2.5 cm tall, not becoming hollow; the hyphae strongly gelatinized, pachydermatous, the cells vertically oriented, algal layer glome-rulate. Apothecia numerous, crowded at the tips of the branches, to 2.5 mm broad, globose; margin of the hymenium incurved and reversing upward before uniting with the pseudopodetium surface, the center with the vegetative tissue extending up into the center of the apothecium and lacking a boundary layer at the base of the apothecium; hymenium 200 μ; asci 8 spored; spores simple, hyaline, spherical to becoming spindle-shaped, 4.0-6.5 x 18-24 μ.

Reactions: K+ yellow.

Contents: atranorin and zeorin.

This species grows on rocks and gravels and on outcrops. It is circumpolar but apparently rather disjunct, occurring in Alaska and Greenland in our area.