[1] Found in the Maharashtra state of India, it grows on the bark of tree trunks in semi-evergreen to dry deciduous forests.

Described as a new species in 2012, the lichen is characterised by its greyish or greenish-white crustose thallus and numerous ascomata, ascospores that have between 7 and 14 transverse septa, and the presence of corstictic and salazinic acids.

It spreads over its host bark substrate in patches measuring 5–12 cm (2.0–4.7 in), with a cracked and areolate surface.

[2] Phlyctis communis is morphologically similar to several other species within the genus, including P. karnatakana, P. subuncinata, P. himalayensis, P. longifera, P. psoromica, P. polyphora,[2] and P. sirindhorniae.

[3] However, it can be distinguished by its unique combination of ascospore septation and chemical constituents, such as the presence of both norstictic and salazinic acids.