Irish lichens

Stigmidium microspilum

Order: Capnodiales       Family: Mycosphaerellaceae

Species: Stigmidium microspilum

Lichenicolous fungus
Photos: On Graphis scripta. Ballingeary, Co. Cork, SW Ireland.

Irregularly shaped greyish-black patches composed of dark brown hyphae are scattered over the host thallus with small clusters of black perithecia at the centre of the larger patches. Asci are 8-spored, spores 1-septate, hyaline but becoming pale brown when over-mature, 14-19 x 4-5 µm. Microscope photograph below.

Fairly common on Graphis scripta in humid woodlands in the west of Britain and in Ireland. Possibly also occurs on other Graphis species.

Similar: Arthonia graphidicola also occurs on Graphis scripta.


Stigmidium microspilum

Stigmidium microspilum

Microscope photograph
Stigmidium microspilum
Stigmidium microspilum on Graphis scripta. January 2010

All images used are copyright. Please contact me if you find errors.