Holly Speckle - Trochila ilicina

Species
Additional images

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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.