Thallus dispersed to granulöse-verrucose, the margins becoming effigurate-crenate, sub-sorediate, lemon-yellow to yolk-colored, dull. Apothecia to 1.5 mm broad; margins flexuous to crenulate, very golden pulverulent; disk flat, granulose, darker than margin; hypothecium hyaline; epithecium yellow; hymenium 60-120 µm, 1+ blue; paraphyses simple or sparingly branched, septate, 2-3 µm thick, tips to 4 µm capitate; spores numerous, hyaline, oblong to ellipsoid, simple or 1-septate, 6.5-15 x 5-6 µm.

This species grows on soil and humus. It is circumpolar arctic-alpine, in North Amcrica ranging south to Colorado.