An inconspicuous genus member, usually growing in mountain forests with long-lasting snow cover on slowly decaying wood of lying trunks and stumps, at bases of trees with acidic bark (e.g. in the company of Biatora spp.) or, more rarely, as a pioneer on siliceous stones. Similar to the common nitrophilous Caloplaca obscurella, G. helvetica forms crater-like soralia, but unlike the aforementioned, it has a characteristic, shiny, continuous thallus and avoids nutrient-rich substrates. Fruiting bodies are rarely formed. However, when formed, the typical soralia, sometimes referred to as goniocystangia, gradually disappear, making identification of the taxon difficult. Most data on this species come from the Šumava Mountains. It may be a partially overlooked montane taxon that descends to lower elevations on microclimatically favourable sites.
Literature: van den Boom P.P.G. & Palice Z. (2006): Some interesting lichens and lichenicolous fungi from the Czech Republic. – Czech Mycology 58: 105–116.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Ostropales → Gomphillaceae → Gyalideopsis
All records: 24, confirmed 24. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).