She discovered the lichen in Tanzania, specifically in the Morogoro Region, on the south-eastern slope of Mount Kanga at an elevation between 850 and 1,200 m (2,790 and 3,940 ft).

The thallus, or vegetative body of the lichen, is continuous or dispersed into rounded, confluent patches up to 50 mm across and 20–40 μm thick.

The apothecia, or fruiting bodies, are rounded, 0.5–1 mm in diameter and 250–350 μm high, with a light brown disc that is initially flat but becomes convex as the apothecium matures.

The disc is covered with a thick, pale yellowish to cream-coloured pruina, which is a powdery substance found on the surface of some lichens.

[4] Calopadia editiae has a wide tropical distribution and has been found in collections from Tanzania, Costa Rica, and the Galápagos Islands.