The lichen has a seafoam-green thallus up to wide, comprising overlapping lobes that are 2.0–5.0 mm wide. The margins of the lobes have simple cilia that are up to 1 mm long. The cortex contains atranorin, while the medulla contains protocetraric acid. Occasionally, the medullary K spot test reaction is positive, producing a very light yellow colour that indicates the presence of traces of atranorin in the upper part of the medulla near the cortex. P. zicoi has short bacilliform-shaped conidia that are less than 5 μm long. The lichen does not produce any form of vegetative propagation or pustules.
