The species is similar to Pannaria phyllidiata, but can be distinguished by its smaller phyllidia and ascospores that are elongated to ellipsoid.

The specific epithet minutiphylla refers to the species' numerous small phyllidia.

[2] The lichen has a foliose (leafy) thallus, that is either corticolous (bark-dwelling), foliicolous (leaf-dwelling), or occasionally saxicolous (rock-dwelling).

Thin-layer chromatography reveals the presence of vicanicin as a major compound, along with 3–4 unidentified terpenoids.

High-performance liquid chromatography also indicates vicanicin as a major compound, with occasional trace amounts of norvicanicin.