World distribution: Sticta canariensis occurs in western Europe and in Macaronesia (James & Henssen 1976). The green algal phototype is most common in the southern part of its range, and the cyanobacterial phototype in the northern part. Composite phototypes are scattered throughout the range of the species. In northwest Europe the species shows a western British Isles to western Norway disjunct distribution. In Fennoscandia the species is restricted to Norway
Ecology: Results. The species was found on damp, shaded, sheltered, more or less vertical schistose boulders and cliffs. It occurred on naked rock as well as over rock with a thin soil layer. It usually occurred in sites protected from direct sun by vegetation or by facing northwards. Typical associates included Lobaria virens, mostly very abundant, and species of Dermatocarpon. In site 381, it occurred sparingly by a south-facing rock wall. The cliff was covered by Hedera helix and a grove of deciduous trees, mainly Corylus avellana and Fraxinus excelsior, in front of the wall. Most specimens occurred on deeply shaded faces of boulders on the ground at the base of the cliff, where extra shade was provided by surrounding trees. In site 1548, the species occurred on shaded and damp rock walls and also in cavities between schists in an open, maritime situation. In site 1546, the species occurred on a north-facing cliff sloping towards a cove; the population occurred on surfaces deeply shaded by a Corylus thicket. Discussion. Sticta canariensis is a species of damp, shaded and sheltered, schistose rock in oceanic sites. Presence of Dermatocarpon species indicates that the rock surface is periodically inundated. The habitats are usually facing northwards and often shaded by trees such as Corylus avellana. The rock surfaces may be vertical to slightly sloping. The sites are always within a few hundred meters from the sea, thus the species may be favoured by maritime influence
Threats: Results. Recorded threats are building on the site (2), tree planting (1), closure of forest (1), and collecting (1). In two sites the species was so sparse that random extinction may be a threat
Status: The species is known from a total of 4 sites, two in Austevoll (1546, 1548), one in Stord (381) and one in Bømlo (382). All sites were investigated, and the species found in all. In one site (381) the population comprised several hundred thalli, in the three other sites the species was sparse. In all sites the cyanobacterial phototype dominated and the composite phototype was sparse. There are no protected localities
Notes: Sticta canariensis comprises two phototypes, a green algal phototype and a cyanobacterial phototype (James & Henssen 1976). Composite thalli occur, and in northwest Europe these consist of small lobes (usually a few mm in diameter) of the green phototype attached to the cyanobacterial phototype (James & Henssen 1976, Tønsberg 1990). IUCN categories in the EU red list: V to E in continental Europe, out of danger in Macaronesia..
Specimens in other herbaria, litterature, etc.