Anisomeridium polypori

Ascomycota › Dothideomycetes › Monoblastiales › Monoblastiaceae › Anisomeridium

Description

An inconspicuous whitish-grey to pale grey-green crust. Tiny black, cone-shaped pycnidia can release fine white threads of conidia. Sexual fruiting bodies are less frequently seen and are usually about 0.15–0.25 mm across.

Source: ITALIC — Anisomeridium polypori

Chemistry

Thallus: K−, C−, KC−, P−, UV−. No characteristic lichen substances are reported.

Source: ITALIC — Anisomeridium polypori

Habitat and Substrate

Typically found on bark in humid, shaded habitats, particularly on elder. British records also include damp wood and shaded rock.

Source: ITALIC — Anisomeridium polypori

Similar Species

Compare Anisomeridium biforme and A. robustum. Perithecial size, pycnidial structure and conidial dimensions help distinguish them.

Sources: ITALIC; BLS identification revision

How to Identify

Use the Anisomeridium key; examine the conidia in the white threads or, if fertile, measure and assess the septation of the ascospores.

Source: BLS identification revision

Important Links

ITALIC — description, chemistry and images

British Lichen Society — species account and British distribution

GBIF — taxonomy and global occurrence records

ITALIC — Anisomeridium identification key

AFL — species account and photographs

Identification Bibliography

Cannon, P., et al. (2023). Perithecial genera I. Revisions of British and Irish Lichens, 37, 1–59.

Nimis, P. L., et al. ITALIC: The Information System on Italian Lichens. Online account: Anisomeridium polypori.

For identification, use the relevant key and compare the microscopic characters and chemical reactions. Photographs alone may be insufficient for closely similar crustose species.