Verrucoccum coppinsii

Taxon

Verrucoccum coppinsii

Authority
V. Atienza, D. Hawksw. & Pérez-Ort. (2021)
Synonyms
Polycoccum hymeniicola auct. brit.
Conservation Status
NE NR (Key)
BLS Number
2659
Comments
on Lobaria pumonaria
General Description

A lichenicolous fungus, growing on the thallus of Lobaria pulmonaria in the west Highlands within temperate rainforest, especially Hazel woods. Perithecia arising in groups from the host's thallus. Asci 8 spored with golden brown to reddish brown,1 septate spores, the lower cell slightly narrower, (12.5–)17.0–20.2–23.0(–25) × (5–)7.0–7.5–8(–8.5) μm. Pycnidia similar to the perithecia and intermingled with them. Conidia simple, smooth-walled, the youngest pale brown and the most mature dark brown, (11.0–)11.5–12.9–14.0(– 15.0) × (5.0–)6.0–7.2–8.5(–9.0)μm. Only known from the west of Scotland and likely to be of conservation interest. 

Known previously as Polycoccum hymeniicola which was originally described from central America but has been shown by Atienza et al (2021) not to belong to Polycoccum and also that the Scottish material was not conspecific with other collections named Polycoccum hymeniicola. See  Atienza et al (2021) for full description and pictures, also see Fungi of Great Britain and Ireland.

 

Distribution Map
Key to map date classes
References

Atienza, V., Hawksworth, D. L.  & Pérez-Ortega, S. (2021) Verrucoccum (Dothideomycetes, Dictyosporiaceae), a new genus of lichenicolous fungi on Lobaria s. lat. for the Dothidea hymeniicola species complex. Mycologia, 113: 1233-1252. Link