Description: Lichen. Thallus crustose, areolate, to several cm wide, indeterminate or determinate and effigurate. Areoles crowded or dispersed, central areoles from 0.5-1.5 mm wide, usually angular, thin and flat to thick and convex, smooth or developing fissures which results in vegetative division; marginal areoles up to 4 mm wide, comprising several lobes up to 1 mm wide, often fan-shaped and fissured; areoles broadly attached, up to 1 mm thick in the center, with a narrow, white, ecorticate, unattached lower surface beneath a down-turned rim that is sometimes blackened. Upper surface epruinose, usually glossy reddish brown, more rarely matt and dark brown; cortical hyphae originating as hyphal bundles which penetrate the algal layer. Upper cortex 50-90 µm thick, cells various, mostly lacking syncortex or epinecral layer. Apothecia rarely numerous and often absent from most of the central areoles, usually one per areole, often expanding and dominating the areole, appearing as innate lecanorine apothecia; disc immersed, dark brown, flat, rough, epruinose, to 0.5 mm wide, the exciple not forming a parathecial crown. Epihymenium 10-15 µm thick, conglutinated in a reddish-brown to yellow pigmented gel. Hymenium hyaline, 90-145 µm high. Paraphyses ca. 2.0 µm in diam. at mid-level, the apices not expanded or caps pigmented. Asci 80-110 x 16-20 µm, clavate; ascospores 100-200 per ascus, narrowly to rarely broadly ellipsoid, 4-5 x 1.8-2.0(-3.0) µm. Pycnidia common, ostioles prominent, brown, often many per areole, to 200 µm deep and 100 µm wide. Conidia bacilliform, 1.5-2.5 x 0.5 µm (Knudsen et al. 2008: 7).

Photobiont: Trebouxioid green alga.

Chemistry: Spot tests: cortex K+ yellow turning red, forming crystals (on microscope slide). Norstictic acid (major), + connorstictic acid (minor), + hyposalazinic acid (trace) (Knudsen et al. 2008: 7).

Ecology: On acid rocks, in open areas at elevations of 600-1500 m.

Molecular data: Genbank

Distribution: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay.

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