World distribution: The species has a wide distribution in the more continental areas of Europe, Asia, and North America. Magnusson (1936) listed localities from Norway, France, Switzerland, Italy, Morocco, Iran, and Turkestan; later also from China (Gansu; Magnusson 1940). It is also reported from the Tatra mountains, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, the Himalayas, Russia, Mongolia, the U.S.A. (Colorado and Alaska), and Greenland (Thomson 1979, Hansen & Poelt 1987, Golubkova 1988)
Ecology: Results. The substrate (indicated at 7 localities) was recorded as schistose and/or calciferous rock. The habitat (indicated at 6 localities) was recorded as south- to southwest-facing slopes and/or exposed rocks or cliffs. Discussion. The species was not given priority during field work, and only one locality was investigated. Previous fieldwork in the 1980's, however, has shown that it grows on moderately inclined to vertical faces of calciferous schists in south- to southwest-facing, exposed localities. Several localities (at least 84, 88, 89, 958, 2828) are in old meadows or grazed land. The Norwegian localities are located in continental areas, with a yearly precipitation of 400-500 mm (84, 88, 89, 91, 958, 960, 2828), 700-1000 mm (90), and 1000-1500 mm (87) (cf. Førland 1993). Glypholecia scabra belongs to the 'steppe element' of the Norwegian flora
Threats: Results. The investigated locality (88) is situated between a road and the railway; expansion of any of these has been recorded as a threat. Discussion. Localities situated in old meadows or open, extensively used agricultural landscapes are generally assumed to be threatened by grass and shrub overgrowth after changes in the land use. These localities are also vulnerable to many kinds of human activities
Status: The species was present in the single investigated locality (88). We have also observed the lichen at 6 of the 8 additional localities during the 1980's. One locality (2828) has not been visited, and at the North Norwegian locality (91) the species was searched for in vain in 1984. However, this is a mountain area of several square kilometers, and only a few hours were spent at the site. No new localities were discovered. Three localities (84, 89, 2828) are within nature reserves
Specimens in other herbaria, litterature, etc.