Phytologia 28: 335 (1974).
Basionym: Parmelia austrosinensis Zahlbr., Symb. Sin. 3: 192 (1930).
Thallus: foliose, usually somewhat coriaceous, loosely attached, pale grey ashh grey, or grey-green. Lobes 1-3 cm wide, rounded, entire or crenate, eciliate, margins often ascending. Upper cortex weakly maculate, sometimes distinctly maculate, especially in central parts, more or less rugose and reticulately cracked. Medulla white. Under side black, with a white, brown, or mottled marginal zone, rhizines short, unevenly distributed. Soralia marginal and submarginal, soredia granular. Apothecia substipitate, thalline exciple sorediate, disc perforate or imperforate. Spores 12-17(20) x 7-10 µm. Pycnoconidia filiform, 1014 µm long.
Photobiont: Data lacking.
Chemistry: Lecanonc acid (C+ red), atranorin.
Ecology: Corticolous or more rarely saxicolous in well-lit sites, both natural and
artificial, common and widespread at 1000 to 3000 m.
Distribution: Widespread in tropical and temperate regions.
Note: Parmotrema austrosinense may be considered the sorediate counterpart of Parmotrema andinum.