Geophytology 3: 114 (1973).
Basionym: Physcia speciosa f. isidiophora Nyl., Syn. Meth. Lich. (Parisiis) 1, 2: 417 (1860).
Type: Angola, Pungo andongo, ad rupes perpendiculares juxta rivulos ad Barranco da Pedra Songue frequenter, at raro fruticans, 2400 ad 3800 ped. s.m., 1857, Welwitsch 96 (LISU - holotype, TUR-Vain 7741 - isotype).
Photobiont: Green alga.
Chemistry: K+ yellow, atranorin, zeorin, leucotylin, additional triterpenoids (Moberg 2011: 138).
Ecology: Corticolous and lignicolous, but apparently preferring trees in open woodland and wayside trees in subtropcial and warm temperate areas (Moberg 2011: 138).
Thallus: foliose, orbicular, to 7 cm in diameter, forming larger colonies, + loosely attached, provided with abundant isidia; upper surface brightly grey, epruinose. Lobes narrow, to 1 mm wide, irregularly branched, + plane, with short lateral lobes, sometimes white at margins because of broken isidia. Isidia cylindrical, simple or branched, mainly along lobe margins, starting as small lobules, sometimes abundant on lobe tips, in inner parts appearing laminal. Lower surface corticate, dirty grey to brownish or almost black with few, short rhizines. Apothecia sessile, to 4 mm in diameter, margins isidiate; ascospores Pachysporia-type, with few sporoblastidia, 25.0-27.5-34.0-36.5 / 12.0-13.5-17.5-21.5 µm, M=30.7; 15.7 µm, SD=3.18; 2.03 µm, n=32. Pycnidia rare (Moberg 2011: 138).