Sorediate species, growing on hard, slowly decomposing wood in rather open mountain boreal-type forests. Considered one of the most reliable indicators of old-growth spruce forests in central Europe (Malíček et al. 2019). Thallus endosubstratal, usually sterile but pale apothecia may be formed under optimal conditions. Soralia disrete, grey to brown when young, becoming paler later on. Distinguished from ecologically and morphologically similar X. soralifera by the presence of stictic acid (strong K+ yellow reaction). May be confused with extreme forms of more common species Buellia griseovirens or Violella fucata which are clearly distinguished by different chemistry. For now, only known from the Krkonoše Mts, Šumava Mts, Jeseníky Mts and Beskydy Mts in the Czech Republic.
Literature: Malíček J., Palice Z., Vondrák J., Kostovčík M., Lenzová V. & Hofmeister J. (2019): Lichens in old growth and managed mountain spruce forests in the Czech Republic: assessment of biodiversity, functional traits and bioindicators. – Biodiversity and Conservation 28: 3497–3528.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Trapeliales → Xylographaceae → Xylographa
Red List (Liška & Palice 2010):VU – vulnerable
Red List (Malíček 2023):C3 – endangered
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 44, confirmed 42. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).