Despite the morphological and ecological diversity within Scytinium, its species share similar ascospore features, such as shape and septation, as well as a small to medium-sized thallus with at least a partial cortex.

[4] Both the upper and lower surfaces of Scytinium lichens can vary from smooth to wrinkled or ridged and typically exhibit a matte appearance.

The true exciple is raised, cup-shaped, and predominantly composed of isodiametric cells, ranging in colour from colourless to reddish-brown.

The hamathecium consists of numerous, conglutinate paraphyses that separate in potassium hydroxide and sometimes have branched apices that are somewhat swollen.

The asci contain eight spores and are club-shaped (clavate), with a strongly thickened apex that reacts to potassium hydroxide and iodine, turning blue.