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

Thallus: adnate to tightly adnate, foliose, 4-6 (-8) cm in diam., irregularly lobate lobes: subirregular, elongate, plane to subconvex, separate, 1-3 (-5) mm wide; apices: rotund, crenate, eciliate upper surface: yellow green to pale yellow, occasionally green-gray (in shade), smooth but becoming rugose with age, dull to slightly shiny; epruinose and emaculate soredia: farinose to granular, common, in circular, laminal soralia that rarely become confluent; isidia, pustulae and dactyls absent medulla: white with continuous algal layer lower surface: black centrally, brown peripherally; rhizines sparse, black, simple Apothecia and Pycnidia: not seen Spot tests: upper cortex K-, C-, KC+ yellow, P-; medulla K+ yellow turning red,C-, KC-, P+ red Secondary metabolites: upper cortex with usnic acid; medulla with with protocetraric acid (major) and caperatic acid (minor). Substrate and ecology: on coastal shrubs, occasionally cacti World distribution: southern and western Europe; Macaronesia; North and South America, central and southern Africa, New Zealand Sonoran distribution: apparently limited to NW Baja California and previously in southern California. Notes: Flavoparmelia subcapitata is somewhat similar to F. caperata but its thallus is smaller and more closely adnate, its lobes are narrower, and its soredia are less diffuse.