Description: This member of the genus occurs on soils or among mosses on the ground. The green-grey granular thallus has immersed discs (perithecia) containing narrowly ellipsoid simple spores (19–25µm long) often with occasional septate spores in over-mature material. A key feature to search for under the microscope is the presence of short, thick gelatinous appendages attached to the spore ends. The similar V. xyloxena has smaller spores (16–21µm long) without appendages and a brown pigment within the thallus.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus green-grey with immersed discs; spores simple with a gelatinous appendage occasionally visible and some older spores becoming septate
• V. bryoctona is a soil-inhabiting species: rare.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Verrucaria bryoctona at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.