Description: You would do best to search for this species along the edge of conifer plantations where some pine or birch trees have fallen into a state of decomposition. Though the thallus of this species is immersed (invisible to the searcher), it throws up numerous, conspicuous, black stalked pycnidia which, unlike M. hedlundii, are not thinly felted. K+ violent pigments are often detected in a squash. The discs are small, black and convex. In Ireland, the species is rare.

Key Identification Features:

• Usually sterile but is visible owing to the tiny black rods or pycnidia on stumps of pine or birch
• When squashed in K, the pycnidia frequently have a violet pigmentation.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Micarea misella at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.