hi byrain,

this is patellaria atra, very common on all kinds of substrates.
we found some on rope ;)

best

dirk

Thank you, do you know where I could find a description for this species?  And do you know what the current name is?  Mycobank and index fungorum claim it is Tephromela atra , but that appears to be a rather different lichen, I'm very exeperienced with ascos and am a bit confused. :)

Edit:  Or rather, you mean atrata instead of atra?
Edit2: I've found descriptions! :D

Here are some:

http://bit.ly/XkXLIY
http://bit.ly/QkD5Or ?

Hi Byrain,
On MycoBank, it's Patellaria atrata:

Classification and associated taxa

Current name : Patellaria atrata (Hedw.) Fr., 2:160, 1822[MB#398671]

Classification : 1. Fungi

2. Ascomycota

3. Pezizomycotina

4. Dothideomycetes

5. Patellariales

6. Patellariaceae

7. Patellaria

Basionym : Lichen atratus Hedw. :61, t. 21A, 1789 [MB#154587]

Obligate or homotypic synonyms : 1. Lecanidion atratum (Hedw.) Endl. :46, 1830 [MB#181476]

2. Lichen atratus Hedw. :61, t. 21A, 1789 [MB#154587]

3. Peziza patellaria Pers. :670, 1801 [MB#148847]

Facultative or heterotypic synonyms : Lichen atratus Hedw. :61, t. 21A, 1789 [MB#154587]

?

Apparently it's world-wide spread, but not always on wood. Here's a photo from my samle, coming from Château de Moha, province de Liège, Belgium, on stems of Verbascum (or eventually Inula).

 

There's also a little description in Ellis & Ellis.

 

Cheers - Luc BAILLY.

Hi Luc

Thanks for the info, I was mostly confused by how patellaria atra is an old name for a lichen, till I noticed there was also a P. atrata. :)  Also, the Ellis & Elli?s books look great, I wish I knew about them sooner!

hi brian, i'm so sorry, it was just a type-mistake .. surely atrata.
best

dirk