Mostly occurring as solitary thalli in very dark sites in dense montane forest. Thallus cyanobacterial, 30-40 mm tall and often as wide, spreading rather than distinctly erect, lobes much entrangled, primary branch surfaces finely pubescent.

Sometimes seen associated with (but not emerging from) Sticta latifrons.

Previously referred to the genus "Dendriscocaulon" which is a cyanomorph state of lichens in the Lobariaceae - in the New Zealand case of those Sticta lichens with a green photobiont.

Sticta dendroides is thus far only known as a cyanomorph - we have yet to find the chloromorph.

See also http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/1448388 for an example of "Dendriscocaulon" associated with the thallus of Sticta latifrons