A widespread species of siliceous rocks. The shiny, black, sessile apothecia on a thin, grey, smooth thallus are distinctive. It is a variable species and the greenish-grey thallus can be quite ephemeral

References: 
Wirth, V. et al. (2013) Die Flechten Deutchlands, Band 1
Smith, C.W. et al. editors (2009) The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland
Dobson, F.S. (2018) Lichens: an Illustrated Guide to the British and Irish Species