Lichenostigma cosmopolites Hafel. & Calatayud

Non-lichenized lichenicolous fungus.

     Presents in the form of a network or bundle of branched hyphae developing on the surface of the thallus of its host (rarely on the apothecia), purplish-brown, blackish, etc. sometimes with small blackish punctiform granulations at the nodes of the network. Rare, globose, superficial, blackish ascomas containing 4-8 asci. Hyaline then grayish-brown spores, with 2 cells, one larger than the other (in an asymmetrical ball of wool), 8-11 x 3-5 µm. Quite common species developing on the thallus of species of the genus Xanthoparmelia.

N.B. Long confused with Echinothecium reticulatum which develops on species of the Parmelia genus.