Thallus growing parasitically over Rha-comitrium moss, at first forming a thin membrane-like prothallus, white or ashy white, over this forming dispersed button-like glomeruli 0.2-0.5 mm broad, lacking soredia or isidia. Apothecia usually present, to 2.5 mm broad, adnate; margin entire to slightly crenulate, persistent, white; disk flat, pale yellowish brown or red-brown, epruinose; hypothecium hyaline; epihymenium brownish; hymenium 170-200 μm; spores 8, ellipsoid, 27-38 x 12-22 μm.

Reactions: cortex K—, C— or C+ red, P—; medulla K—, C+ red, KC+ red, P—; disk K+ yellow, C+ red.

Contents: gyrophoric acid.

This species grows as a parasite over Rhacomitrium lanuginosum. It is known from Norway, Novaya Zemlya, Spitzbergen, Jan Mayen, Greenland, and North America, but it is rarely collected.