[1] It is characterized by its pale greenish-grey to white color, small ascospores, and preference for open habitats.

This lichen is similar to other species in the genus Tricharia, but it is differentiated by its smaller ascospores and unique diahyphae.

The species epithet duotela comes from the Latin word telum ("weapon"), referring to the morphologically distinct sterile setae and hyphophores of the lichen.

[2] The Tricharia duotela lichen has a thallus that is continuous to dispersed, with areolae measuring 1–3 mm across and 20–30 μm thick.

Tricharia cuneata, found in Florida, Mexico, and Argentina, has a smooth thallus without crystals, lecideine apothecia, and longer, consistently submuriform ascospores.