Found in Papua New Guinea, it was formally described as a new species in 2008 by Dutch lichenologist André Aptroot.

The type specimen was collected by the author from the alpine lichen zone on the southeast slope of Mount Wilhelm at an altitude of 4,200 m (13,800 ft).

[2] Because of its small population and extremely limited geographical distribution, it is predicted to be quite vulnerable to potentially deleterious effects of climate change.

The upper surface of the thallus is dark chocolate to blackish brown, glossy, and often has shallow reticulations and pits.

The lower surface is black and covered with a short felty layer of rhizinae, which are 50–150 μm long and mostly dichotomously branched.