LICHALP

Verrucaria xyloxena Norman

Syn.: Involucrothele velutinoides (Hellb.) Servít, Thelidium velutinoides (Hellb.) Servít, Verrucaria acrotella Ach. f. terrestris Arnold, Verrucaria floerkei Trevis., Verrucaria melaenella Vain., Verrucaria terrestris (Arnold) Vain. non (Th. Fr.) Tuck., Verrucaria velutinoides Hellb.

Lichenised.

Substrate: acidic soil (mostly on siliceous substrata), calciferous soil

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: on calciferous soil, often associated with acrocarpous mosses, mostly in upland areas but usually below the alpine belt; in the study area hitherto reported from the Eastern Alps only (Austria, Italy), but easy to overlook, and perhaps more widespread.