Thallus: superficial and to nearly 100 µm thick surface: yellow-brown to dull brown, often glossy, scabrid in sheltered sites, subgelatinous photobiont: a cyanobacterium, Hyella; cells: orange, small, up to 12 um in diam. Perithecia: 0.2-0.25 (-0.3) mm diam., sessile on siliceous rocks, flattened, with a black ring around the ostiole (resembling life savers, especially when wet) and a pale base, globose and immersed on calcareous substrate 12-20 (-27) x 5-8 (-10) µm involucrellum: sometimes distinct asci: ovoid to subcylindrical, c. 8-spored ascospores: narrowly ovoid, hyaline, 1-septate, cells unequal in size, Pycnidia: 60-80 µm diam conidia: bacilliform to ellipsoid, 2.5-3.5 x 0.5-1 um Spot tests: all negative Secondary metabolites: none detected. Substrate and ecology: on siliceous rocks, also superficial on limestone and shells (barnacles, limpets, etc.) in the littoral zone World distribution: widespread in Northern Hemisphere Sonoran distribution: coastal California [reported from central part, but likely to also occur in southern part]. Notes: This widespread, morphologically variable taxon needs further study and may include several species.