LICHALP

Protothelenella sphinctrinoidella (Nyl.) H. Mayrhofer & Poelt

Syn.: Gloeopyrenia reducta (Th. Fr.) Zschacke, Microglaena coenosa (Vain.) Zahlbr., Microglaena geoctona Hellb., Microglaena reducta (Th. Fr.) Hellb., Microglaena sphinctrinoidella (Nyl.) Norman, Microglaena sphinctrinoides (Nyl.) Lönnr. subsp. reducta Th. Fr., Thelenella coenosa Vain., Thelenella reducta (Th. Fr.) Vain., Verrucaria sphinctrinoidella Nyl.

Lichenised.

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

Altitudinal range: from the montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies) to the alpine belt (potential vegetation: treeless Alpine grasslands and tundras, to the lower limit of perennial snow and the equilibrium line of glaciers)

Note: on acid to subneutral soil, moribund bryophytes and lichens, more rarely on decaying plants in upland areas, often in rather disturbed habitats, e.g. along mountain track sides; certainly more widespread in the Alps, but probably overlooked.