Holly Speckle - Trochila ilicina
Description
This fungus forms a distinct, fine (<1mm diameter) dark speckling on dead holly leaves. It occurs on the upper side of the leaf only. The speckles (spore-producing structures) are first closed, and then open by a lid to expose the olive spore-mass, and finally appear as dry black, shiny depressions in the leaf, with a slightly raised lip.
Identification difficulty

Identification aids
Holly Speckle Trochila ilicina |
Phacidium lauri | Phomopsis crustosa | Microthyrium ciliatum |
---|---|---|---|
There are some nice comparison images of species 1, 2 and 4 here. | |||
Small (<1mm) speckles on the upper side of the leaf only. | Pustules (c.1.5mm) on upper and lower surfaces of the leaf. | Immersed black conidiomata (0.5mm) on brown spots surrounded by a narrow black line. | Tiny black speckles (<0.5mm) on both sides of the leaf. |
Habitat
Only grows on dead (brown) leaves of holly
When to see it
All year. The open lids are best seen December to February.
UK Status
Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.
VC55 Status
Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015