World distribution: The species is known from Europe, Madeira, and South Africa (Lamb 1977). In Europe it is northwestern, with occurrences in France, the British Isles, and Scandinavia. In Fennoscandia the species occurs in Norway and western Sweden (Santesson 1993). In Sweden it has been collected twice in one (possibly two) site (Magnusson 1926)
Ecology: Results. The substrate (indicated in 10 sites) was siliceous, maritime rock (5), in streams or on the stream bank (5), and on pebbles in a depression in a coastal heath (1). The recorded aspects were northern (2), eastern (2), and northwestern (1). The species grew in sheltered to well-lit, and rather exposed habitats. In one site the species grew on a north-facing rock wall, near the water level partly under overhanging rock. Discussion. Stereocaulon delisei is a species of siliceous rock in humid habitats, e.g. maritime rocks and riverside rocks in sheltered to exposed situations. In the British Isles the species is often associated with high concentrations of heavy metals at old mining sites (Purvis 1992h). No Norwegian specimen is known to occur in such habitats
Threats: Results. Trampling by man (374), building on the site (370), and road construction (370) were recorded as threats. Discussion. The species often occurs in small populations, threatened by random extinction
Status: Twelve of the 17 old localities were investigated. The species was present in 4 sites (in 374 and 378 several thalli occurred, in the two others few), of uncertain status in 5, and extinct from 3. No new locality was found. One locality (1577) is within a protected landscape area
Specimens in other herbaria, litterature, etc.