His diagnosis of the species was as follows: Lecidea with a thin, membranaceous, somewhat granular, black crust; with concave yellow apothecia, having an entire, elevated, paler margin".

[4] Kuettlingeria atroflava features a crustose thallus, typically measuring between 1 and 2 mm in diameter, and displays a dark grey to black hue.

When fully mature, the thallus has a thin, cracked surface divided into convex areoles, each approximately 0.5 mm in diameter, surrounded by a well-developed, black, sometimes fringe-like prothallus.

The paraphyses (sterile structures within the apothecium) are slender, segmented, and curve gently, with ends that are only slightly enlarged.

Additionally, Rufoplaca scotoplaca typically presents a darker disc and does not feature the green thalloidima found in Kuettlingeria atroflava.