The lichen, which was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, has an arctic–alpine and circumpolar distribution and occurs in Asia, Europe, North America, and New Zealand.

The colouration of Solorina crocea is quite distinct, making it readily identifiable: its upper thallus surface is green, while both the undersurface and its internal medulla are bright orange.

[10] Some forms and varieties of Solorina crocea have been described, but these do not have independent taxonomic significance, and are assessed by Index Fungorum to be synonymous with the nominate taxon.

[15] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, members of the genus are commonly known as "socket lichens",[16] and the species is sometimes called "mountain saffron".

[21] The fine details of ascospore structure have been studied using scanning electron microscopy, revealing that there is a consistent, distinctive ornamentation in the spores of each of the most common arctic-alpine Solorina species.

In S. crocea, the spores are covered with irregularly shaped papillae (small pimple-like structures), but do not form ridges or reticulations.

The sterile, non-fruiting version has similar chemical properties as its namesake; according to Krog and Swinscow, "The relationship between these two species needs further investigation".

[23] Some lichens collected at high elevations in Nepal are similar in overall morphology to Solorina crocea, but feature some distinguishing characteristics: they have developments of the apothecia at the lobe margins reminiscent of lichens in the genus Peltigera, there are soredia-like structures on the lobe margins that can later develop into isidia-like lobules, and they have a thick layer (100–125 μm) of cyanobacteria, while missing the green algal layer in many parts of the thallus.

[25][26] The presence of solorinic acid causes the medulla and lower thallus surface to yield a positive K spot test (K+, purple);[16] this compound may also mask the results of the KC and C reactions.

[27] A glycoside compound extracted from S. crocea and reported in 1994 – named 1-(O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-3S,25R-hexacosanediol – was the first of its type (a "higher alcoholic glucoside") isolated from a lichen.

[26] In North America its range extends from polar regions in alpine to subalpine habitats south to California and New Mexico.

[16] In Iceland, Solorina crocea occurs in Salix herbacea snowbeds and north-facing slopes with abundant grasses and sedges.

Infection results in the appearance of crowded blackish ascomata on the upper surface of the host thallus and a highly branched, dark mycelium below the fruitbodies.

[15] Another lichenicolous fungus, Talpapellis solorinae, was described as a new species in 2015 from collections made in North Caucasus; it does not cause distinct damage to the infected host thallus.