Arthothelium dictyosporum
Description
The thallus is whitish, grey-brown or fawn in colour and immersed in the substrate, often bordered by a brown line. Apothecia up to 0.8 mm in length, irregularly rounded, polygonal or shortly elongate, flat or slightly convex , sometimes disintegrating at the centre, blackish, not pruinose.
Similar Species
Similar in appearance to Arthonia ilicina, but this has ascospores with a muriform "tail" and are distinctly warted when brown. . Also similar to Arthothelium macounii, but this has K+ purplish and magenta pigments in teh epithecium and hypothecium.
Habitats
On smooth (Corylus, Ilex and Sorbus) bark or roughish bark (Salix) in old woodlands.
Distribution
A possible British endemic, and the old lichen "flora" mentions only the W. & C. Scottish Highlands. There appear to be no records from Wales so it is something of a mystery why it is on the Welsh S42 list. (But Steve Chambers thinks it may be in Alan Pentecost's Gwynedd Lichen Flora). Also, N. Wales is given in the new lichen flora.
Hectad Distribution in Wales/NBN Gateway Map
(Be aware that the data on the Gateway may be incomplete and the maps should not therefore be relied upon as a full representation of the distribution of this species. Note that the maps coverage includes some parts of England. Also, without a registered account on the Gateway your access to datasets may be limited)