Syn.: Parmelia paleacea Fr., Psoroma hirsutulum Nyl. ex Cromb., Psoroma hypnorum (Vahl) Gray var. paleaceum (Fr.) Rostr.
Lichenised.
Substrate: acidic soil (mostly on siliceous substrata)
Altitudinal distribution: alpine belt (potential vegetation: treeless Alpine grasslands and tundras, to the lower limit of perennial snow and the equilibrium line of glaciers)
Note: a species with a granular to minutely squamulose thallus covered in scattered white hairs as the thalline margin of the cupulate apothecia (to 2 mm in diam.) (not to be confused with tomentose hairs in the lower part of the exciple as seen in morphs of P. hypnorum), with non-septate subglobose ascospores (15-20 × 10-14 μm); on moist soil, encrusting bryophytes and plant debris; overall distribution bipolar, but rare; from the Alps there is a single, historical record (Germany).
