[2] The lichen, which occurs in diverse regions including the Upper Midwest of the US, Europe, Japan, Pakistan, and European Russia, is common in certain areas.

Its thallus forms circular patches up to 3 cm in diameter, made up of many small, discrete lobes that can grow together to cover large areas, often intermingling with other lichen species.

These lobes, which vary from short and rounded to slightly elongated, have numerous soralia (reproductive structures) on their edges and surfaces, while the undersides are white to pale tan with sparse rhizines.

[3] The taxon has more than a dozen synonyms that it has acquired in its taxonomic history through being shuffled to various genera, or by authors who thought it should be considered a variety or form of another species.

Apothecia (fruiting bodies) are rare in this species, measuring up to 1 mm in diameter, and may be sessile or very shortly stipitate with an entire or irregularly crenate (scalloped) margin.