Description: This elm-tree specialist forms dark, olive green to grey, mealy-granular patches covered with purplish-brown to black, flattish discs on tree sap weeps or on hollowing out bark. Colonies of this species have been devastated by Dutch elm disease and whereas it was once recorded (post 1960) from several southern and south-western counties, it is now presumed to be extinct. In Ireland, the species has also been recorded from holly, sycamore and beech. The species may be surviving in out-of-the-way places so is worth searching for.

Key Identification Features:

• On wound tracks of elm and other trees
• The mealy-granular, olive green thallus and purplish-brown discs with a dark internal pigmentation distinguishes it.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Bellicidia incompta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.