For a detailed description, see
Clerc (1991, 2007),
Purvis et al. (1992) and
Halonen et al. (1998) (also under the name
U. madeirensis). Thallus 6–12 cm long, shrubby, erect to pendulous, richly branched, branches somewhat interwoven; base thick, extensively blackened, with numerous annular cracks which may occur also in distant parts of the main branches; branches tapering, not constricted at the point of attachment; fibrils present, few to numerous; papillae present, dense on basal parts of main branches; soralia conspicuous, punctate to transversely elliptical to irregularly rounded, remaining discrete; isidiomorphs irregularly present, but usually absent on mature soralia. Cortex very thick (9–14%), mat; medulla very thin (7–12%) and compact.
