It is widely distributed in tropical regions and grows on the bark of oak and palm trees.

It was originally described by William Nylander as a species of Parmelia, from a collection made in Sri Lanka.

[5] The colour of the lichen thallus is light greenish-grey, and lacks maculae (paler spots free of photobiont).

The lobes comprising the thallus surface are 1–3 cm wide and have scattered cilia on the margin, which can be relatively long – up to 5 mm.

The lower surface (the prothallus) is black, rarely with white blotches, and relatively free of rhizines.