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Lichenicolous fungus on Collemataceae

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  • May 28, 2026 at 8:11 am #33182
    BenMitchell
    Participant

      Hello everyone,

      I think I have a lichenicolous fungus on Leptogium brebissonii – tiny, translucent, stipitate, bright orange globules – are these synnemata? Throwing off large quantities of conidia that are approx. 12-19 x 4µm, faintly 1-septate with one end thicker than the other.

      The conidia in particular look rather similar to Lukasverboom’s recent posting. https://www.fungi.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4740” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.fungi.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4740

      This was on a branch of a very species rich willow tree growing near Loch Awe in Argyll.

      LeptogiumBrebissoniiLichenicolousK3QJ1364-86b.jpg

      [attachment=5]LeptogiumBrebissoniiLichenicolousK3QJ1364-86b.jpg[/attachment]

      LeptogiumBrebissoniiLichenicolousK3QJ1353-62.jpg

      [attachment=4]LeptogiumBrebissoniiLichenicolousK3QJ1353-62.jpg[/attachment]

      Microscopy in water, not cleared:

      LeptogiumBrebLicheinicolousIMG_6760.jpg

      [attachment=3]LeptogiumBrebLicheinicolousIMG_6760.jpg[/attachment]

      LeptogiumBrebLichenicolousIMG_6749.jpg

      [attachment=2]LeptogiumBrebLichenicolousIMG_6749.jpg[/attachment]

      LeptogiumBrbLichenicolousIMG_6750.jpg

      [attachment=1]LeptogiumBrbLichenicolousIMG_6750.jpg[/attachment]

      LeptogiomBrebLichenicolousIMG_6752.jpg

      [attachment=0]LeptogiomBrebLichenicolousIMG_6752.jpg[/attachment]

      Location: Ardbrecknish, Loch Awe, Argyll.

      Grid Ref: NN06572102

      ViceCounty: 98

      Date: 22 May 2026

      Recorder: Ben Mitchell

      Substrate: corticolous

      Small-scale Habitat: In a line of willows on low, boggy ground below a road verge. On a ~1cm thick branch, 1m above ground. Growing out of lobes of Leptogium brebissonii.

      Notes: similar things growing on two neighbouring branches. In one case the host might have been Scytinium lichenoides.

      There is an iNaturalist observation for this: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364239283” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364239283

      …and for the host lichen: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364239277” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364239277

      In this Ricasolia virens photosymbiodeme observation from a neighbouring branch, a similar LF can be seen (again on L. brebissonii, I think) (photo2) https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364385018” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364385018

      May 28, 2026 at 2:27 pm #46967
      Paul Cannon
      Participant

        No immediate answers, I’m afraid – this could possibly be an anamorph of a nectriaceous species, but I can’t find an obvious candidate. It should be quite easy, the conidia are rather distinctive – and yes, this must be the same as Lukas’s species. More microscopic details are really needed, especially of the mode of conidial development. If you would like to send me a specimen I’d be happy to take a further look.

        Best wishes

        Paul

        June 8, 2026 at 8:17 am #46968
        BenMitchell
        Participant

          Dear Paul,

          It would be great if you could examine it. Where should I post it to?

          Sorry for the delayed response – I tried sending this as private message, but I’m not sure if the message got through..?

          Cheers,

          Ben – wilde.eep@gmail.com

          June 12, 2026 at 10:32 am #46969
          Paul Cannon
          Participant

            Hello again Ben

            Thank you for the specimen. I’m reasonably sure that it belongs to the genus Stilbella, but can’t find an appropriate species name for it and I think it is probably undescribed. There are two other species of Stilbella recorded as lichenicolous, but these are clearly different and I’ve looked through the non-lichenicolous taxa without success.

            I’ve made a species page for it – see https://sites.google.com/view/fungi-of-britain-and-ireland/non-lichenized-ascomycota/s/stilbella/stilbella-sp-p6588” class=”bbcode_url”>https://sites.google.com/view/fungi-of-britain-and-ireland/non-lichenized-ascomycota/s/stilbella/stilbella-sp-p6588, I hope you don’t mind me using your images there. I’ll try to get it sequenced, which may take a little while – but we could then take things further.

            September 6, 2026 at 4:53 am #70596
            BenMitchell
            Participant

              Reviewing some old photos, I found this in the corner of a picture of Radula complanata from Oban back in February. Looks quite similar. The substrate could be Leptogium brebissonii again.

               

               

              Location Glencruitten, Oban, Argyll.
              GridRef: NM870293
              Vicecounty: 98
              Date: 4 February 2026
              Recorder: Ben Mitchell
              Substrate: corticolous
              Small-scale Habitat: On a steep bank dense, young young hazel woods. Trunk of a hazel. Growing on a shrivelled, brown jelly lichen – probably Leptogium brebissonii.

               

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