Description: The thallus of this species grows among mosses in western oceanic woodlands, especially species of Isothecium and Rhytidiadelphus. It appears as a thin grey film, which is of little use in identification. However, the feature to search out is the otherworldly-looking hyphophores (scale-like structures) which have the web-like appearance of a clawed hand. Find them where mosses overhang vertical habitat such as boulder tops, banks and cuttings and so hold rainwater longer than the surroundings. Discs are red to brown-black; spores 15- to 20-septate. In Ireland, there are a few scattered records across the island from the north-east to the south-west.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus a film, fruits red to black, hyphophores (like modified isidia) blackish, shaped like a clawed hand
• In western woodlands on the drip tassels of mosses.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Gyalideopsis muscicola at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.