This inconspicuous species is often found only in the pycnidial stage, without apothecia. Morphological and anatomical separation from similar, predominantly anamorphic species (e.g. M. nigella and M. osloensis) is usually very difficult. However, M. botryoides is characterized by a ± green thallus and often branched pycnidia; in fertile specimens, identification is additionally supported by longer ascospores (8–13 × 2.5–4 μm), which are often 1-septate.
It is a widespread lichen, most commonly growing on siliceous rocks and on dying saxicolous bryophytes, more rarely also on decaying wood. It ranks among the most shade-tolerant lichens and can persist even in places where not even shade-tolerant representatives of the genus Lepraria occur. In moist and shaded microhabitats it may locally become one of the dominant lichen species. It is particularly abundant, for example, in the sandstone rock cities of northern Bohemia, but it is also frequent in all Czech mountain ranges.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Lecanorales → Pilocarpaceae → Micarea
All records: 139, confirmed 53. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).