Briancoppinsia cytospora
Anamorph: conidiomata pycnidial, (40-) 50-80 (-120) µm diam., partly immersed in the host thallus or apothecia, often becoming almost superficial, dark brown to black, rather irregular in form but usually subglobose, the base somewhat applanate, initially with a punctiform ostiole, when overmature with an enlarged opening that may reveal the white conidial matrix inside the pycnidium. Setae absent. Conidiomatal wall 5-7 µm thick, of a few layers of brown to olivaceous intertwined brown hyphal cells 2.5-3 µm diam., K+ dark olivaceous. Pycnidial gel I+ and K/I+ red. Conidiophores absent. Conidiogenous cells lining the inner wall, (4–) 5–7 (–7.5) x (2–) 3–5 (–6.5) μm, ampulliform, apparently not proliferating, hyaline, smooth-walled. Conidia (4.5–) 6–7 (–8) x (1–) 1.5–2 (–2.5) μm, l/b ratio (2.3–) 3.0–4.0 (–5.3), narrowly ellipsoidal, usually slightly curved, the apex rounded and the base truncate, hyaline, aseptate, smooth- and thin-walled, not guttulate, without an epispore, gelatinous sheath or appendages.
Teleomorph: not known.
Assessed by Woods & Coppins (2012) as of Least Concern. At that point it was considered as Nationally Rare due to the small number of collections, but it appears to be under-recorded; there have been a number of recent reports from various parts of the country.
At one time assumed to belong with Phoma and its relatives, but that genus is highly polyphyletic and Briancoppinsia has been shown to belong to the Arthoniaceae. Its irregularly opening pycnidia and usually curved conidia are diagnostic features.
Parasitic on thalli and ascomata of various lichens, especially Lecanora species and members of the Parmeliaceae, sometimes within blackened necrotic areas.
Scattered throughout Great Britain and Ireland. BLS map here.