[2] Its thallus, ranging in colour from brown to black, features narrow, elongated lobes that can be flat, convex, or concave.

The Swedish lichenologist Erik Acharius first scientifically described Melanelia hepatizon in 1799, initially classifying it in the eponymous genus Lichen, following the conventions established by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum.

[5] Studies employing DNA barcoding have revealed considerable intraspecific genetic variability within Melanelia hepatizon.

The high genetic distances observed among individual specimens of this species suggest the presence of previously unrecognised lineages.

This indicates that what is currently classified as M. hepatizon may, in fact, encompass multiple distinct species that have not yet been identified due to their morphological similarity.

These metabolites contribute to the diverse biochemical profile of Melanelia hepatizon and are characteristic of the broader group of fungi-associated lichen substances.

[10] A circumpolar species, Melanelia hepatizon has a wide ecological amplitude, growing in diverse environments ranging from arctic sea-level stands to alpine belts in meridional zones, and from oceanic to continental sites.

The lichen colonises siliceous rocks, occasionally wood and mosses, in various lowland and mountain tundra communities, as well as in open, exposed alpine vegetation.