Victorian Nat. 6: 69 (1889).

Type: Australia, Victoria, Warrnambool, F. R. M. Wilson 432 (G - lectotype). Designated by ; (divaricatic acid and usnic acid).

Thallus: Corticolous, pale green, caespitose to subpendulous, up to 4 cm long, exceptionally to 7 cm, branching irregular, dense; branche width 1 - 3 mm, flat to subterete, sometimes palmate at the base to 8 mm broad, distally producing numerous fine lacinae; surface cartilaginous, smooth and shiny, rarely matt; holdfast delimited; soralia occur in eroded patches at intervals along the lower surface where the branches have split and flattened out and also at the apices. Apothecia rare, disc 2.0 mm diam., concave to plane; margin entire; spores ellipsoidal, straight or rarely curved, 10 - 12 x 4 - 4.5 µm.

Photobiont:

Chemistry: Divaricatic acid and usnic acid.

Ecology: Collections of this cool temperate species in Australia have been made from sea-level to elevations of up to 1150 m. It appears to tolerate a broad range of environments. The type material was collected at sea-level, and other coastal sites are Lakes Entrance, Westernport Bay, and Portland; inland collections above 1000 m were at Nimmitabel, New South Wales, and Old Man's Head, Tasmania. Material cited from South Africa was collected at elevations of 2000 m at latitude 34°S, and from Chile, latitude 53°30'S at an elevation of 800 m.