Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2002. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 1.

Thallus: peltate, irregularly orbicular, lobate lobes: 2-8 mm in diam., heteromerous; margins: downcurved or raised, entire or broken upper surface: yellow to brown-olive, with pale c. 40 µm deep depressions in a reticulate pattern cortex: 25-50 (-75) µm thick; cells: 5-13 µm in diam.; epinecral layer: up to 45 µm thick medulla: composed of anticlinally oriented hyphae, 3-8 µm thick, basally with globose, enlarged cells (up to 14.5 µm in diam.); cyanobacteria distributed throughout lower cortex: not developed or only rudimentary at the margin of young lobes Apothecia: one to several per lobe; disc: red-brown, urceolate, up to 2 mm diam.; exciple: 25-70 µm thick; hymenium: (115-) 140-175 µm tall, I+ blue or in part reddish; subhymenium: 20-50 µm thick asci: cylindrical to obovoid, 8-spored ascospores: simple, ellipsoid to fusiform, (15-) 17-29 (-32) x (5-) 8-10.5 (-12) µm Pycnidia: immersed conidia: fusiform, 2.5-3.5 x 1-1.5 µm Spot tests: all negative Secondary metabolites: none detected. Substrate and ecology: usually on soil, sometimes on soil over acidic rocks, occasionally in calcareous areas World distribution: SW North America, SW Europe, northern Africa and Australasia Sonoran distribution: Arizona and Baja California Sur. Notes: The mottled, superficial appearance of this species due to the deep, reticulate depressions in the upper surface is a feature by which the species can be readily recognized.