Phacidium lauri

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Alternative names

Phacidium multivalve

Description

Small round black volcano-shaped pustules with pale tips form on the upper and under surfaces of dead Holly leaves. These are the asexual form, producing conidia.

Similar Species

Trochila ilicina forms small dark speckles on the upper side of dead holly leaves.

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.

Recording advice

Your photo should show the pustules in situ on the leaf and also in close-up. Check whether the speckles are on upper or lower side of the leaf, or both, and note this. Also note the substrate and associated tree species in your comments.

Habitat

Fallen Holly leaves.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Peter Smith
Cropston garden
14 April 2018
Graham Calow
Sapcote, Church Walk
20 November 2020
underside - close up
Peter Smith
Cropston garden
14 April 2018
Underside of leaf
Saharima Roenisch
Leicester, Abbey Park
15 March 2019
Saharima Roenisch
Welford Road Cemetery
04 March 2017
conidial state
Saharima Roenisch
Beacon Hill Country Park
25 March 2017
Saharima Roenisch
Stoughton Drive North
22 February 2017
conidial state
David Nicholls
Ratby SUD
11 January 2021
Saharima Roenisch
Abbey Park
08 March 2017
Peter Smith
Cropston garden
14 April 2018

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

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MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:: fungus
Kingdom:: Fungi
Order:: Phacidiales
Family:: Phacidiaceae
Records on NatureSpot:: 19
First record:: 22/02/2017 (Roenisch, Saharima)
Last record:: 02/08/2025 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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