LICHALP

Verrucaria nigrescens Pers.

Syn.: Lithocia controversa (A. Massal.) A. Massal., ?Verrucaria acrotelloides A. Massal. (fide Nimis), Verrucaria controversa A. Massal., Verrucaria fusca auct. non Pers., Verrucaria fuscoatra Pers., Verrucaria nigrescens Pers. var. funckii (A. Massal.) Zwackh non Verrucaria funckii (Spreng.) Zahlbr., Verrucaria protothallina A. Massal., Verrucaria umbrina (Ach.) Ach., Verrucaria velana (A. Massal.) Zahlbr.; incl. Verrucaria confusa Zschacke, Verrucaria confusionis Grummann, Verrucaria nigrescens Pers. var. laeviuscula Nyl.

Lichenised.

Substrate: calciferous rocks, intermediate rocks (such as calciferous schists)

Altitudinal range: from the mesomediterranean belt (potential vegetation: evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus ilex) to the nival belt (above the lower limit of perennial snow and glaciers)

Note: a subcosmopolitan species, one of the most common saxicolous lichens throughout the Alps, found both in urban and natural habitats, with a very wide ecological tolerance; several morphs from natural habitats, however, deserve further study.