Catillariaceae Catillaria nigroclavata Growth type crustose Chemical results negative Found on both rough and smooth barked deciduous trees and can be locally common (but easily missed) on twigs in young woodland The thin, often inapparent thallus is pale grey to dark grey-brown with small dark brown to black apothecia (0.15-0.3mm). Asci are 8-spored, the spores 1-septate, 8-10 x 2.5-3 µm. Hymenium colourless, the paraphyses with dark, swollen tips. Micrograph below. Similar: Catillaria fungoides, corticolous with rounded to irregular blackish soralia. Catillaria chalybeia and C. lenticularis are saxicolous

Microscope photograph



Catillaria nigroclavata
Kingston Lacyand Broadstone, Dorset. November 2016 and 2023