Coprotus lacteus
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: ascomata apothecia, 200-500 µm diam., scattered to gregarious, sessile but with the lower part sometimes slightly constricted, initially ± globose and becoming cupulate to discoid, initially translucent white and becoming pale yellow, the margin concolorous with the disc, the hymenium granular due to protruding asci. Peridium composed of globose to angular cells to 12 µm diam. at the base, the marginal cells elongated, 8-10 x 4-5 µm, without carotenoid pigments in the cellular cytoplasm but becoming dextrinoid. Interascal tissue composed of septate filiform simple or branched paraphyses 1.5-2 µm diam., the apices slightly inflated, often curved at the apex, containing yellowish oil droplets. Asci 60-85 x 15-20 µm, broadly cylindrical to clavate, tapering towards the base and very short-stalked, not forked at the base, the apices rounded to truncate, fairly thick-walled, no iodine reaction, 8-spored. Ascospores biseriately arranged, 8-10 x 5-6.5 (-7.5) µm, broadly ellipsoidal, aseptate, hyaline, smooth, thick-walled especially when immature, each with a de Bary bubble, without a gelatinous sheath or perispore.
Not formally assessed. The number of reports suggests that the species is unlikely to be threatened, but it should probably be assessewd as Data Deficient.
Close to Coprotus glaucellus but with broader asci and marginally larger ascospores.
In GB&I, reported from dung of various herbivores, including cow, goat, horse, rabbit, red deer and sheep.
In GB&I, reported from scattered localities from south-eastern England to Sutherland, with a single record from VC48 Merioneth (Wales) and two from VCH28 Sligo (ROI).