The lichen was named and formally described by Ulrik Søchting and Gemma Figueras in 2007, who initially classified it as a member of the genus Caloplaca.

Preliminary molecular phylogenetics studies indicated that C. lenae was positioned at the base of the Fulgensia clade within Caloplaca, but its exact relationship within the genus remained unclear.

[5] The thallus of Hanstrassia lenae can reach up to 3 cm (1.2 in) in diameter, occasionally merging thalli to form larger patches.

It has an areolate structure, with colours ranging from yellowish-grey and pale yellow to ochre, orange, or brownish-yellow, often covered in a whitish pruina.

[1] Hanstrassia lenae grows on limestone and calciferous schist, predominantly on vertical cliffs facing south, southwest, and sometimes north in dry continental regions at elevations between 300 and 1,500 m (980 and 4,920 ft).

It is known from limited locations in Yakutia, the Altai Region in Siberia, and Khatgal in the Mongolian People's Republic, which are all areas characterised by a continental climate.