World distribution: Outside Europe, the species is known from Morocco, East Africa, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.A. (Esslinger 1977, Swinscow & Krog 1988, Purvis & James 1992c). It occurs in Europe from southern Fennoscandia and the British Isles to southern Europe (Leuckert et al. 1975, Esslinger 1977, Wirth 1987, Purvis & James 1992c, Nimis 1993). It is a rare species in southern Fennoscandia, occurring in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden (Rassi & Väisänen 1987, Alstrup & Søchting 1989, Santesson 1993)
Ecology: Results. The substrate was indicated in three collections: Calcareous sandstone (982), basic mica schists (2747), and somewhat iron-stained sandstone (3094). In the investigated localities, the species grew on rather exposed dry rocks, somewhat nutrient-enriched by dust. The habitat was recorded in three localities: two (3094 and partly 2747) were close to water (3094 on the bank of a hydroelectric magazine), and one (982) was a large, exposed cliff. Two localities were situated in grazing land (982, 2747), while a rocky pine forest (3094) is likely to be a primary locality. Associated lichens at the localities include Cetraria odontella (2747), Evernia mesomorpha (2747), Flavoparmelia caperata (982, 2747), Melanelia disjuncta (982, 3094), M. panniformis (982, 3094, 3400), M. subargentifera (982), Neofuscelia pulla (982, 3094), Peltula euploca (982), Physcia dimidiata (982, 2747), Punctelia stictica (982, 3094), Rhizocarpon ridescens (3094), Umbilicaria nylanderiana (2747), and Xanthoparmelia somloënsis (982, 2747, 3094). Discussion. Neofuscelia verruculifera grows on rock, rarely on wood (Esslinger 1977). There are no previous reliable records on the ecology of N. verruculifera in Norway. The species has been confused with the similar, but mainly maritime, N. loxodes. In the British Isles, the species has a wider ecological amplitude than N. loxodes and occurs in both maritime and inland areas, preferring well-lit xeric situations such as memorials, standing stones, etc. (Purvis & James 1992c). The species seems to have a more continental distribution than N. loxodes in central and south Europe (Wirth 1987, Nimis 1993). In Germany, the species grows on sunny, often manured siliceous rocks, and is associated with Melanelia disjuncta, M. panniformis, M. sorediosa, Neofuscelia loxodes, N. pulla, Parmelia omphalodes, Xanthoparmelia conspersa, X. mougeotii, and X. somloënsis (Wirth 1987)
Threats: Results. The recorded threats were overgrowth due to reduced grazing (982, 2747), pollution (982), and raised water level in a hydroelectric magazine (3094). Around Oslo (311, 3400), main threats were assumed to be air pollution and urbanization. Discussion. Overgrowth may represent the most serious threat against the species in Norway. The species is threatened by forestry in Finland (Rassi & Väisänen 1987), and by overgrowth in Denmark (Alstrup & Søchting 1989)
Status: Three old localities were investigated. The species was found in 982, regarded as extinct in 311, and of uncertain status in 3400. Two new localities were discovered (2747, 3094). No localities are protected. The species may be overlooked, however, since it has just recently been understood in Norway (all Norwegian material was studied by TLC for the first time during this work) and its habitat is apparently common over southeast Norway
Specimens in other herbaria, litterature, etc.