Family: Melaspileaceae Species: Melaspilea ochrothalamia Growth type crustose Photos: Dromore, Co. Cork, SW Ireland. Whitish-grey evanescent thallus, sometimes causing a rust-coloured stain on bark surrounding the apothecia. Small rounded or angular brownish-black discs, the epithecium green to orangy-brown. Spores 1-septate, 17-21(-28) × 6-8.5(-12) µm, greenish becoming brown. Micrographs below. Chemistry negative Occurs on smooth bark in moist woodlands and is most frequent on Oak and willows. Widespread but scattered distribution in Ireland Melaspilea atroides has small slit-like discs, whitish K+ orange thallus and one-septate spores. Occurs on hazel in western Atlantic woodlands but could be mistaken for Opegrapha atra

Micrographs



Melaspilea ochrothalamia. August 2024