Aspicilia confusa is a pale gray (sometimes brownish) crustose areolate lichen that grows mostly on rock in southern and central California mountains, from 250 to 3,170 metres (820 to 10,400 ft).

[1]: 224–5  Each areole commonly has 1–4 round to angular aspicilioid apothecia that are 0.1–1.5 mm in diameter, sunken into it.

[2] Each apothecia has a usually concave, black disc.

[1]: 224–5 [2] Lichen spot tests are all negative.

[1]: 224–5 [2] It grows on rock in chaparral or forests in central and southern California, including the Sierra Nevadas, but not in the southeastern deserts of California.