Description: ‘Pinhead’ lichen (glossy black, pin stalks to 2mm high) with a non-frosted, disc top producing a brown spore mass at maturity. The thallus is just visible on the tree as a thin, granular streak with no orange or yellow colouration; it gives a K-, Pd+ yellow reaction. On dry, acid-barked trees, uncommon. Northern and southern Ireland, absent from the midlands.

Key Identification Features:

• Has brown spore mass at maturity; stalks, smooth, shiny, black; the maturing disc not frosted
• Thallus without bright colouration, greyish, Pd+ yellow; dry bark of both deciduous and evergreen trees.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

Distribution Map from NBN: Chaenotheca brunneola at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Chaenotheca brunneola at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.