ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > UMBILICARIALES > Fuscideaceae

Genus Fuscidea, from 'fuscous' referring to the spores that often become brownish when old

Common name:            -

Synonym:                     Catillaria lightfootii    

Habitat:                         Wayside trees

Substrata:                     Bark

Growth form:                Corticolous

Thallus:                  Crustose

Apothecia:                    Lecideine

BLS identity rating:        Graded 2/5 (visual identification possible with care)

Thallus thick, usually well defined in neat circular patches from 0.5-2cm dia; granular, finely to coarsely verrucose-areolate, occasionally papillate or somewhat warty, variably sorediate; grey-greenish to bright olive, sometimes suffused brownish in places; prothallus pale brownish-grey to dark brown; apothecia frequent to 1mm dia., flat to slightly convex, shining, dark grey-brown to almost black, margin slightly paler.

Fuscidea lightfootii is a relatively common species, once restricted to the west and north, but now spreading, becoming generally widespread; occurring primarily on twigs and small horizontal branches of various trees, particularly Ash (Fraxinus) and Willow (Salix), most frequently those overhanging stream or rivers, or near boggy areas, but also in drier areas.

The tiny examples featured here were photographed on small twigs of a tree that unfortunately I didn't identify, which was on the edge of the heath in an area of woodland alongside a near permanently wet and boggy patch of ground.