« Back

Athelia epiphylla

Athelia lichen

Description

Due to its striking appearance, the fungus can be considered by mistake as tree disease. A symptom on the tree bark are white spots and rings easily visible also from a distance. Colonies are tightly attached to the bark and in a very humid environment they can reach the size of a palm. In urban areas, spots are smaller and brownish grey in the middle. The spots vanish in winter, the fungus overwinters in the brown mycelial clusters - sclerotia. The fungus is a parasite, however, not on trees but on algae found on bark surface. Algae and sometimes also lichens around the fungal mycelium (Lecanora spp.) die in time.      

Symptom

A symptom on the tree bark are white (gray white) spots and rings easily visible also from a distance.

Tree Species: Beech, Oak, Hornbeam, Maple, Lime, Poplar

Part of a plant- attacked: Tree trunk

Pest significance: Less harmful

Pest Category: Fungi

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes

Seasonal frequency of occurrence

Seasonal frequency of occurrence