LICHALP

Steinia geophana (Nyl.) Stein

Syn.: Biatora geophana (Nyl.) Th. Fr., Biatorella geophana (Nyl.) Rehm, Lecidea boreella Nyl., Lecidea geophana Nyl., ? Lecidea insita Stirt., Lecidea trichogena Norman, ?Nesolechia insita (Stirt.) Vouaux, Pleolecis geophana (Nyl.) Clem., Sarcogyne geophana (Nyl.) Boistel, Steinia luridescens Körb.

Lichenised.

Substrate: acidic soil (mostly on siliceous substrata), calciferous soil, lignum, parasitic on other lichens, plant debris

Altitudinal range: from the submediterranean/colline belt (potential vegetation: mixed deciduous forests dominated by Quercus and Carpinus) to the subalpine belt (potential vegetation: open, taiga-like forests dominated by Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra and Rhododendron)

Note: an ephemeral, facultatively lichenised species of moist, slightly calciferous soil, rotten wood, small pebbles, terricolous Peltigera- and Solorina-species and plant debris, often found in rather disturbed habitats such as on earth banks along white roads and on track sides; perhaps overlooked, but certainly never common in the Alps.