[1] Grows to around 3–6 cm in diameter with lobes which are approximately 0.7–1.5 mm wide with short crowed edges.

The upper surface of the lichen is dark yellowish green in color and shiny on the surface.

Rhizines are simple in structure and pale forming 0.2–0.5 mm long.

[4] It is the only member of the Xanthoparmelia genus that produces fatty acids which form spots that can be detected with shortwave UV light.

[5] Found in Western North American including the US states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Montana.