Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, often referred to as the gold-eye lichen or golden-eye, is a fruticose lichen with branching lobes. Their sexual structures, apothecia, are bright-orange with spiny projections (cilia) situated around the rim. It has a global distribution, but is often localized and rare in many parts of its range. Colonies most often form along coastal areas. The genus name Teloschistes means "split ends", referring to the branched tips of the lichen. Chrysophthalmus in turn is formed from chryso and phthalmus meaning "gold eyed" referring to the orange or red apothecia.