Lophodermium arundinaceum

Lophodermium is an extensive genus containing numerous species that act as saprophytes or endophytes/parasites on the tissues of a wide range of host plants.

In this particular case, Lophodermium arundinaceum typically occurs in coastal dune ecosystems on dead culms of grasses such as Ammophila arenaria or Elymus farctus.

The ascomata (hysterothecia) measure just over 1 mm at most, black, elongated-elliptical, opening in moist conditions or at maturity via a longitudinal median slit to expose the hymenium.

Microscopy was performed on a collection made in Santoña (Cantabria) in January on dead stems of Elymus farctus subsp. boreoatlanticus.