[3] Ramalina intermedia is a fruticose lichen with slender, branched thalli that are primarily attached to a substrate, often trees or rocks, by a small holdfast.

Its branches are flattened, sometimes twisted, and have a light greenish-yellow color due to the presence of usnic acid, which is a secondary metabolite common in many lichens.

The surface of the thallus is typically covered in tiny, granular structures known as soredia, which serve as a means of asexual reproduction.

[4] Microscopically, the photobiont layer—where the symbiotic algae reside—is located beneath a protective upper cortex, allowing the lichen to photosynthesize efficiently.

It can be confused with species like Ramalina farinacea due to its morphology, but R. intermedia can be distinguished by its narrower lobes and absence of certain chemical compounds like protocetraric acid.