[4][5] It was originally described as Lichen acetabulum by Belgian physician and botanist Noël Martin Joseph Necker in 1768.

[6] The lichen contains several secondary chemicals, including atranorin, salazinic, norstictic, protocetraric, and evernic acids.

[10] Pleurosticta acetabulum has been used for research investigating its tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, such as those that might be found on planet Mars.

It was shown that following exposure to complete dehydration, extremely low temperature (-196°C/77K), and oxygen depletion, the lichen was able to recover and its ability to produce a high yield of hydrogen was unchanged.

This suggests that it might have use in astrobiological applications as a hydrogen producer in bioregenerative life support system for extraterrestrial environments.