Description: This crustose epiphyte occurs mainly on the smooth bark of tree branches such as thorn, hazel and oak. The spherical discs (perithecia: 0.2-0.4mm diam.) are similar to those of Arthopyrenia lichens so are small and best viewed with a hand lens. In the field, the clincher for its identification is the presence of a number of smaller black dots (pycnidia). This mixture of perithecia and pycnidia gave rise in lichenology circles to the phrase ‘Little and Large’…as in the phrase, “Oh look, here’s Little and Large”. The species is relatively frequent in suitable habitats in Ireland, especially in the north and west.

Key Identification Features:

• The tiny, black discs (perithecia) mixed with even smaller pycnidia on a thin, often immersed thallus serve to suggest this species
• It is a characteristic lichen of little disturbed woodlands.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Mycoporum antecellens at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.