Xylopsora canopeorum is distinguished from closely related species by its smaller, partly coral-like squamules (scales), the occurrence of soralia on its surface, and in some specimens, the presence of both thamnolic and friesiic acids within the thallus.

Xylopsora canopeorum was declared endangered by the IUCN in 2021 due to its habitat specialization, severe fragmentation of its range from historic logging, and increased vulnerability to high-intensity wildfires exacerbated by climate change.

The type specimen was collected by Bendiksby from Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California, at an elevation of 341 m (1,119 ft); there, it was found growing on the bark of a main trunk of an old Sequoia sempervirens more than 100 cm (40 in) in diameter.

To achieve these results, the research incorporated both manual and automated methods for establishing multiple sequence alignments, which are particularly challenging for non-coding DNA regions with variable lengths.

These scales often evolve into a coral-like crust as the lichen ages, initially adhering flatly to the surface before standing upright in a manner that seeks the direction of gravity (geotropically imbricate).

The spore-producing cells (asci) are club-shaped, approximately 30 μm tall, featuring a thin amyloid structure at the center covered by a cap, containing orange pigment when young.

The thallus reacts to certain chemical spot tests, changing color to yellow in the presence of para-phenylenediamine (PD) and potassium hydroxide (K), while it shows a bluish-white fluorescence under ultraviolet light (UV+).

The presence of Xylopsora canopeorum is often associated with a community of other lichen species, including Carbonicola anthracophila, Fulgidea oligospora, F. sierrae, Hertelidea botryosa, and Hypocenomyce scalaris, which share the surfaces offered by the ancient trees of these old-growth forests.

Accurate knowledge about Xylopsora canopeorum is hindered by the challenges of accessing its canopy habitat, necessitating specialized climbing for direct observation and collection, which is strictly regulated within State and National Parks.

Additionally, exploring other potential hosts within the family Cupressaceae that share similar bark characteristics to the coast redwood could provide new insights into the species' distribution and resilience strategies.