Irish lichens

Rinodina sophodes

Order: Lecanorales       Family: Physciaceae

Species: Rinodina sophodes

Growth type crustose.
Photos: On deciduous twig. Gougane Barra, Cork, SW Ireland. Left identified by John Douglass

Pale grey to olive-brown thallus forming small, irregularly cracked patches, usually with a dark prothallus. Apothecia are immersed, sometimes becoming sessile. Discs dark-brown to black, remaining flat with thick white margins. Asci are 8-spored, the spores brown, 1-septate, 13-19 x 6-9 µm. Microscope photographs below.

Usually occurs near leaf and girdle scars on smooth-barked twigs, often associated with Ash. Widespread, but most frequent in upland and exposed areas. Chemical reactions negative.

Similar: Rinodina olea. Most frequent Rinodina species on rock and man-made substrates, also occurs on wood and bark.


Rinodina sophodes

Rinodina sophodes

Microscope photographs
Rinodina sophodes, ascospores

Rinodina sophodes, ascospores
Rinodina sophodes. August, October 2009 and January 2012

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