The thallus is foliose, yellow to yellow-grey, lobes narrow, crowded, radiating, convex in cross section, turned under at the tips, pale brown beneath, inner lobes usually bearing large, globose, white to yellowish soralia.

On hard, exposed, base-poor rocks. One of the few lichens that grows on slate.

All year round.

Mainly found in the north and west, and mainly in upland areas.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.