Ramalina azorica has a dull, shrubby
thallus that clusters into dense groups of 5–25 branches. These branches originate from a commonly dark, often blackish base, and can extend up to in length. They are oriented upright to hanging and have a greenish to yellowish-grey hue. The thallus is somewhat fragile and shows a high degree of variability in its branching patterns. Some branches resemble antlers, while others are denser and become cylindrical towards the tips. The surface of these branches is wrinkled, featuring (
cartilage-like) strands that rise to the surface to form lines known as
pseudocyphellae—areas where the is partially absent, revealing the underlying layer. In cross-section, the are flattened and can be distinctly contorted in a cork-screw-like fashion. They typically have a diameter of up to about 5 mm, although they are often much slimmer. This species does not produce
soredia, which are small, powdery
propagules used for
asexual reproduction. Reproductive structures called
apothecia appear along the margins of the branches. These are 2–4 mm in diameter and can be flat to convex in shape. The within these structures are divided by a single
septum, are clear (
hyaline), and range from straight to slightly curved, measuring 8.8–12
μm long and 3.3–4.4 μm wide. Additionally,
pycnidia—small fruiting bodies that release asexual spores—are located near the margins of the branches and are pale in colour. Chemically, the
medulla (the innermost layer of the thallus) does not react to common chemical spot tests (C−, K−, Pd−), but it does
fluoresce white under
ultraviolet light, indicating the presence of
divaricatic acid and another unknown pigment. The cortex, or outer layer, contains
usnic acid, which is commonly found in many lichen species and contributes to their colouration and protection from sunlight. ==Habitat and distribution==