Description: This species, which is relatively frequent in south-east Ireland, is a miniature version of S. clavus with discs to 1mm diam. On siliceous tomb-tops in damp churchyards it can grow to become a dominant feature. The greyish thallus supporting pale-red to brown discs with a black, compressed rim and multispored spore-sacs (asci) (seen in a microscope squash of the discs) are its main characteristics.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus inapparent or greyish, discs, pale red to brown with black angular rim (exciple)
• Spores 3.5–5µm long; on smooth, horizontal siliceous rock, for example, tombs, memorials.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

Distribution Map from NBN: Sarcogyne hypophaea at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Sarcogyne hypophaea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.