Thallus areolate to verrucose-areolate, the areolae becoming partly verrucose subdivided, ashy-brownish; black hypothallus present. Apothecia between the areolae, level with the thallus, round to rounded-angular; margin thin, persistent; exciple red-brown; disk black, dull, smooth to very slightly roughened, flat to slightly convex; hypothecium red-brown to brown-black; epithecium red-brown; hymenium 150-160 µm, hyaline, upper part reddish; paraphyses coherent, capitate; spores 8, 1-septate, brown-black, with halo, constricted, 28-35 X 12.5-17 µm.

Reactions: medulla K+ yellow turning reddish brown, C —, P—, I—; exciple and hypothecium K—; epithecium K+ violet-red; hymenium 1+ blue.

Contents: not known, but not stictic acid.

This species grows on acid rocks. It is known from Finland, Novaya Zemlya, and Greenland. I have found it on the shore rocks of Isle Royale in Lake Superior, so that it may be expected in the American Arctic.