This corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen was identified in the primary rainforests and on sandstone under overhanging cliffs of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

The species name rufescens refers to the brown (rufescent) pruina (a type of powdery coating) found on its mazaedium (a mass of spore-producing tissue in certain lichens and fungi).

[2] The thallus (the main body) of Tylophoron rufescens is crustose (crust-like), discontinuous, and primarily whitish, covering up to 5 cm in diameter but is less than 0.1 mm thick.

[2] Chemical spot tests on the thallus yielded a UV– (non-fluorescent under UV light) and C+ (red) reaction, suggesting the presence of gyrophoric and possibly diploschistesic acids.

[2] This species has been documented only in specific habitats within Brazil, including the primary rainforest of Mato Grosso and on sandstone under overhanging cliffs in Paraná.