Lichenologist 8: 122 (1976).
Basionym: Anaptychia dendritica var. japonica M. Satô, J. Jap. Bot. 12: 427 (1936).
Protolog: Data lacking.
Protolog type data: Data lacking.
Type locality: Japan, Data lacking.
Type locality coordinates: Data lacking.
Molecular barcode: Data lacking.
Thallus: very variable, irregular, rarely orbicular, to 5 cm, loosely adnate, lobe tips ascending, usually widening towards apices, whitish to cream-coloured, rarely brownish, sometimes pruinose at tips especially when young. Lobes + fan-like, radiating, broad, c. 2 mm, to 3(-4) mm at the tips, usually discrete, sometimes dissected with lobules along the margin developing small soralia. Soralia labiate, on lateral or terminal lobes, sometimes spreading along lobe margin, soredia farinose to granular. Lower side ecorticate, white to brownish or bluish black, often sparsely dotted with brownish orange-red pigment towards lobe apices, marginal rhizines mostly present, 1-3(-7) mm long, simple and black. Known fertile from a single specimen. Ascospores 40-45 x 20-22 µm. Pycnidia rare, pycnoconidia bacilliform 4-5 x 1 µm (Moberg & Purvis 1996: 189).
Photobiont: Data lacking.
Chemistry: Norstictic acid (Arvidsson & Wall 1985: 43). Medulla K+ yellow, P+ orange, atranorin, zeorin, norstictic acid (López de Silanes & Paz Bermudez 2002: 77).
Ecology: The most abundant and widespread Heterodermia species in the Azores occurring on bark, rocks from sea level to 1000 m (Moberg & Purvis 1996: 189).
Distribution Type: Pantropical to subtropical extending to warm temperate regions of Europe (Moberg & Purvis 1996: 189).
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