The thallus presents in shades of greyish, whitish, or whitish-grey, often appearing dull orange or brownish-orange due to the profusion of apothecia.

These areoles, separated by cracks up to 0.04 mm wide, can be indistinct, often being completely obscured by apothecia or showing signs of exfoliation.

[1] In terms of its chemical properties, the epihymenium of Caloplaca nothoholocarpa reacts K+ by turning purple or somewhat blackish-purple, eventually becoming crimson.

[1] Historically, convex and large apothecia, reaching up to 1.3 mm in diameter, have been noted as characteristic of Southern Hemisphere specimens of Caloplaca holocarpa according to Øvstedal and Lewis Smith.

[3] In contrast, the material of C. nothoholocarpa aligns more closely with species such as Gondwania sublobulata, Austroplaca johnstonii, and Caloplaca schofieldii, all of which are quite distinct from Athallia holocarpa.