[1] The lichen's familiar nickname is inspired by the appearance of its surface, adorned with small black spots reminiscent of buttons.

[9] Reproductive structures on this lichen are represented by its lecideine apothecia, which remain immersed within the thallus rather than developing a raised, sessile appearance.

In contrast, the outer excipular hyphae are parallel, moderately swollen, and heavily pigmented in various shades of brown and greenish blue.

The paraphyses exhibit a simple to moderately branched morphology, with their apical portions swollen and capped in a brown pigment.

[9][1] Buellia aethalea is widely distributed across temperate regions, with the species being commonly encountered in northern Europe.

[9] Within the Sonoran Desert region of North America, the lichen has been documented growing at higher elevations in the state of Arizona.

[9] Ecologically, Buellia aethalea functions as an epilithic lichen, colonizing a variety of siliceous, or acid-based, rock substrates.