Scutula stereocaulorum (Anzi) Körb.

Parerga Lichenol., 5: 455, 1865. Basionym: Lecidea stereocaulorum Anzi - Comm. Soc. Crittog. Ital., 1, 3: 155, 1862.
Synonyms: Biatorina stereocaulorum (Anzi) Jatta; Catillaria stereocaulorum (Th. Fr.) H. Olivier; Spilodium stereocaulorum (Anzi) Nieuwl.
Description: Thallus absent, not lichenized, developing on the thalli of Stereocaulon-species, causing little damage to the host thalli. Apothecia lecideine, 0.1-0.8 mm across, at first dark red-brown, then black, with a flat o finally convex disc and a persistent or finally excluded proper margin. Proper exciple of parallel, radiating, branched and anastomosing, strongly adglutinated hyphae, dark reddish brown; epithecium reddish brown, sometimes with an orange or red hue, 5–10 μm high; hymenium colourless or pale yellowish brown, (35-)50-80 µm high, the hymenial gel hemiamyloid; paraphyses septate, very sparingly branched and anastomosing, the apical cells thickened, 4-8 µm wide, with a dark cap; hypothecium colourless to brown, of loosely intertwined hyphae, 100–250 μm high, I+ and K/I+ blue-violet, with greenish yellow inclusions reacting K+ orange-red. Asci 8-spored, with an amyloid tholus, a diffuse non-amyloid apical cushion, and an outer amyloid wall layer. Ascospores (0-)1-septate, not constricted at septum, hyaline, narrowly ellipsoid to narrowly oblong, (10.5-)13-17(-19) x (3.5–)4-5.5(-6.5) μm, thin-walled, without a perispore. Pycnidia brown, cupuliform, 50-130 μm in diam., immersed. Conidia simple, hyaline, falcate to bacilliform, (8-)10-12.5(-13.5) x 1-1.5 μm. Photobiont absent. Spot tests: K-, C-, KC-, P-, UV-. Chemistry: thallus without lichen substances; apothecia with different pigments.
Growth form: Lichenicolous fungus
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: very rare
Subalpine belt: very rare
Montane belt: absent
Dry submediterranean belt: absent
Humid submediterranean belt: absent
Padanian area: absent

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Source: https://fungi.myspecies.info/all-fungi/catillaria-stereocaulorum Photo uploaded by Paul Cannon - CC BY NC
Catillaria stereocaulorum, infected thallus of the host lichen Stereocaulon dactylophyllum, covered in minute black apothecia; those of the host are larger and dark brown. Collection from soil over mine spoil, VC97 W Inverness.