Order: Teloschistales       Family: Teloschistaceae Species: Caloplaca cerinella Growth type crustose. Photos: On Ash twig. Ballingeary, Co. Cork, SW Ireland. Identification confirmed by B. Coppins Thin, smooth, grey to white thallus forming small patches or +/- immersed. Very small closely grouped apothecia, discs pale yellow to orange with paler persistent margins. Asci are (8-)12-16 spored, the spores polarilocular, 10-13 x 6-7 µm, the septum 3-5 µm wide, 1/4 - 1/2 spore length. Microscope photograph below. Thallus K-, apothecia K+ red-purple Inconspicuous, possibly often overlooked on bark of twigs and small branches of Ash and Elder. Similar: C. cerina. Larger discs, asci 8-spored.

Microscope photograph

Caloplaca cerinella. January 2010 and 2012