Family: Abrothallaceae Species: Lichenoconium usneae Lichenicolous fungus. Photographs on Usnea esperantiana and Usnea wasmuthii. Commeen West, Co. Cork and Killarney, Co. Kerry, SW Ireland. A lichenicolous coelomycete forming immersed or superficial black pycnidia on/in apothecia or thallus of host, the pycnidia +/- subglobose, (40-)50-80(-110) µm in diameter. Conidia are brown to dark brown, simple, +/- globose and not distinctly truncate at the base, (2.5-)3-4(-5) µm diam. Micrographs below. Commensalistic to parasitic, and often associated with other lichenicolous fungi on foliose and fruticose lichens including Cladonia, Parmelia, Physcia, Ramalina and Usnea species. Probably a species complex owing to the wide range of hosts Similar: Lichenoconium erodens. Smaller pycnidia, different hosts

Micrographs



Lichenoconium usneae. August 2024 and June 2025