Thompson, J. 1984. American Arctic Lichens: The Macrolichens.

Thallus granulose, forming cushions or scattered, dark olive to blackish, to 2 cm broad, attached by tufts of rhizinae, the lobes globose, about 0.1 mm or to 0.2 mm long, sometimes forming a thin cortical parenchyma in older thalli, the interior hyphae reticulately arranged, the Nostoc through the thallus. Apothecia brown or blackish brown, flat or convex, to 0.9 mm broad, proper margin distinct at first, then disappearing; subhymenium pale, 110-340 μ; hymenium 80-135 μ, upper part with brown gelatin; asci subclavate, 80-8, hyaline, ellipsoid with slightly pointed tips, 11-20x7-9.5 μ.

This species grows over mosses and other lichens and also occasionally on barks. It is known from Scandinavia, Greenland, Canada, and South Dakota.