Pyrenula coryli

Taxon

Pyrenula coryli

Authority
A. Massal. (1852)
Synonyms
Mycopyrenula coryli
Conservation Status
VU D2 NR Sc (Key)
BLS Number
1675
Taxon Photo
General Description

This Pyenula has only a weekly lichenised thallus and is unlikely to be mistaken for any of the other British species. It is more likely to be mistaken for the field for species of Arthopyrenia and Eopyrenula. The spores of some Eopyrenula species look similar (Eopyrenula grandicula & Eopyrenula avellanae) and also have three septate ascospores, but these are brown and lack lenticular lumina.

Identification

Thallus pale grey; pseudocyphellae more or less absent; probably lichenised. Perithecia 0.2–0.3 mm diam. and ca 0.1 mm high, with a laterally extending involucrellum; pigmented exciple not continuous below the perithecial cavity; anthraquinones absent. Ascospores 10–17 × 4–6 μm, 3-septate. Pycnidia scattered amongst the perithecia; conidia ca 20 × 0.5 μm, thread-like.

Difficult to separate in the field from species of Arthopyrenia and Eopyrenula

Habitats

On Hazel bark.

Distribution Map
Key to map date classes
Distribution

Very Rare, S.W. England (Devon, Somerset), North Wales (Merioneth), Cumbria, scattered in Scotland, N.W. Ireland. Indications are that the species has greatly declined in distribution since the pre- industrial era (Ellis et al. 2018), doubtless in tandem with many other lichen species.

Threats & Status

A very rare species of old Hazel bushes that was historically much more widespread but has become very rare. Its recent rediscovery in lowland England in two locations in Somerset, however, possibly marks the beginnings of a recovery

Britain: Vulnerable

Scotland: Priority Taxon for Biodiversity in Scotland 

References

Cannon, P., Coppins, B., Aptroot, A., Sanderson, A. & Simkin, J. (2023). Perithecial genera I, including Acrocordia, Alloarthopyrenia, Anisomeridium, Antennulariella, Arthopyrenia, Celothelium, Cyrtidula, Dichoporis, Eopyrenula, Julella, Leptorhaphis, Leptosillia, Lithothelium, Mycomicrothelia, Mycoporum, Naetrocymbe, Pyrenula, Rhaphidicyrtis, Sarcopyrenia, Swinscowia and Tomasellia. Revisions of British and Irish Lichens 37: 1-59.

Ellis, C.J., Yahr, R. & Coppins, B.J. (2018). Quantifying the anthropocene loss of bioindicators for an early industrial region: an equitable baseline for biodiversity restoration. Biodiversity and Conservation 27: 2363– 2377.

Text by Neil A Sanderson