Puccinia libanotidis can be identified by three of its five spore types, which leave, respectively, rust-brown, cinnamon-like, and black scab-like sori along the plant.

This sorus may stretch 0.5–3.0 centimetres (0.20–1.18 in) across the petiole and undersides of the leaf veins of the host plant, leading to a gall formation.

The urediniospores spread out, lightly scattered, across the upper surfaces of the leaves and petioles, and teliospores (comprising the third conspicuous stage) appear.

[5] In Great Britain, S. libanotis is confined to two chalky regions in south-east England, and the rust in turn is quite rare.

It had been observed twice, once in 1910 and again in 1946, and was then thought extinct, being unofficially Red Listed as extirpated from Britain in 2006.