UK Fungi

lichenicolous fungi on Chaenotheca trichialis pins

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  • May 22, 2026 at 7:32 pm #33179
    kianhaylescotton
    Participant

      Hi all,

      I’ve been doing a voluntary surevy around Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. On one of the veteran oaks I found this Chaenotheca trichialis, however the mazaedium appears to be completely taken over by a fungus. The fungus is bright white and has also infected the body of the pin making it a pale tan/ cream colour and very translucent. The conidia or spores (I can’t tell) are 1.6-2.8um wide and spherical. Any help would be much appreciated. More photos and details on my record: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/363023781” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/363023781

      Many thanks,

      Kian

      May 24, 2026 at 11:27 am #46958
      Neil Sanderson
      Senior Moderator

        OK that is strange. There is definitely Chaenotheca trichialis in there, but the majority of the pins look very very like a Sclerophora species. Sclerophora peronella is the one with the smallest spores but these should be 3–3.5 µm diam., which is a bit larger than you give. The translucent stalk should also have a red-brown core visible when wet for this species. Whatever it is, a Sclerophora species would be a major rediscovery/discovery for Yorkshire. Sclerophora species are not parasitic and should have their own thallus with Trentepohlia as the algae. If it is a Sclerophora species, it may just be growing through the Chaenotheca trichialis.

        Neil

        May 28, 2026 at 3:19 pm #46959
        kianhaylescotton
        Participant

          Cheers, Neil. That looks like a pretty good suggestion! I’ll try and get a bit more under the scope and check the spores measurements and red core. I hadn’t even considered that it is likely to be a different kind of pin. Hopeflly it’ll all match and we’ll have at least one tree back in Yorkshire with this species!

          Many thanks and all the best,

          Kian

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