Mycotaxon 30: 337 (1987).
Type: Argentina, Provincia de Salta, Las Pailas, near Cachi, above the river Las Arcas, over mosses on soil, 50 m above the road, 2280 m, M.T. Adler (BAFC 35.931 - holotype, ANUC, NY - isotypes).
Thallus: foliose, fragile, adnate or loosely attached, yellow to pale yellow-green, to 8 cm in diameter; lobes irregular, 1.0 - 4.0 mm wide, imbricate, with ascending + pruinose margins, developing dense marginal and laminal lobulae in the thallus centre, lobulae suberect, dorsiventral, with pruinose margins, 0.5 - 1.0 mm wide. Upper surface opaque, maculate subapically, pseudocyphellate, pseudocyphellae dense, punctiform, elongate or eventually reticulate, commonly elevated or with raised margins, lacking soredia and isidia; medulla white. Lower surface black with a broad, naked, glossy, yellow to brown marginal zone, sparsely rhizinate, rhizines black, simple, short. Apothecia and pycnidia not known (Elix & Adler 1987: 335).
Photobiont: Trebouxia.
Chemistry: Cortex K-, medulla K-, C+ red, P-; containing usnic acid, lecanoric acid (major), orsellinic acid (trace) (Elix & Adler 1987: 335).
Ecology: Terricolous, over moss on soil (Elix & Adler 1987: 335).
Coordinates: 25°05'S, 66°11'W.