Description: This is the commonest Sphinctrina species in Ireland. It is restricted to growing on the thallus of Pertusaria pertusa (rarely other members of the genus) on old acid-barked trees in open, parkland-like settings. The minuscule black, short-stalked discs protrude low from the thallus and turn K+ red in squash. The spores are 5–7.5µm and roughly globose. In Ireland, there are scattered sites in the north and west.

Key Identification Features:

• On thallus of Pertusaria pertusa; black, short-stalked with globose spores, K+ red when squashed under the microscope
• Old well-lit trees, for example, in former parkland sites.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Sphinctrina turbinata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.