The lichen is characterised by its unique multilayered appearance with outer sterile rings that are brownish or greenish-yellow and inner areoles that are whitish, yellowish, or greyish, often cracked to reveal the medulla underneath.

It starts with sterile outer rings measuring 2–3 mm in width that are brownish or dirty greenish-yellow, dull, smooth, and continuous.

The apothecia initially appear zeorine (sunken) but then become more prominent, resembling lecanorine to biatorine types as the true exciple deteriorates.

The thalline exciple, the rim surrounding the disc of the apothecia, varies in colour from dull yellow to grey and is about 0.03–0.05 mm wide.

[1] The lichen produces eight-spored asci (spore-bearing structures), with mature polarilocular ascospores often accompanied by aborted spores.

[1] Chemically, the epihymenium and outer layers of the true exciple react to potassium hydroxide by turning brownish-purple as the bright golden crystals within dissolve.

[3][1] Elixjohnia jackelixii thrives in coastal environments, typically found on exposed rocks such as quartzite, granite, basalt, and dolerite.