Found in the South Island of New Zealand, it was formally described as a new species in 2002 by Anders Nordin.

The type specimen was collected by David J. Galloway in the Old Man Range / Kopuwai (Otago) at an elevation of 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

The lichen is only known to occur in the Central Otago mountains, where it grows in alpine grasslands on dead grass, plant detritus, and old rabbit droppings.

Its ascospores are ellipsoid in shape, thin-walled with a single septum, and measure 13–25 by 5–7·5 μm.

Secondary chemicals found in the lichen include 6-O-methylarthothelin (major) and atranorin (minor).