Thallus chinky-areolate, with flat or slightly convex areolae, gray-brown or yellow-brown, dull, moderately thick, to 0.4 mm thick. Perithecia in raised portions of the areolae, covered by thallus tissue, the ostiole flattened; exciple greenish black, entire; involucrellum extending down as far as the base of the perithecium; gelatin 1+ red; asci broadly saccate; spores ellipsoid, 14-21 x 7.5-10 µm.

This species grows on both calcareous and noncalcareous rocks in damp but not aquatic sites. Although known from Europe, Greenland, and North America, it is a seldom collected species.

This species may be very closely related to V. aethiobola, differing in the greater amount of thallus over the perithecium. The sections are very similar.