Holly Speckle - Trochila ilicina

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.

Only grows on dead (brown) leaves of holly

All year. The open lids are best seen December to February.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.