LOPHODERMELLA Höhn. Rhytismataceae. 1 Ukrainian species on Pinus. Lophodermella conjuncta (on dead parts of 2-year-old needles of Pinus, widespread in Europe but not yet recorded from Ukraine, may be worth looking for.

Lophodermella sulcigena (Rostr.) Höhn. [click here for picture]. Status. Native; 4 records since 31 May 1993; local, often restricted to one or two trees within a stand, though sometimes occurring on considerable numbers on those trees; this inconspicuous species is easily missed by the generalist field mycologist, and there are probably more records from Ukraine to be found among those generated by forest pathologists. Months. May, June. Regions. Crimea. Habitat. Pinus sylvestris, Pinus sylvestris subsp. kochiana; on secondary needles of 2- and 3-needle pines, colonizing living needles during or shortly after flushing, typically only one needle of the bundle, rapidly causing death of the tip, though apparently never killing the tree, fruiting on the pale, brittle dead portion within 12 months of colonizing, infected trees can often be distinguished by their 'paler' appearance compared with their neighbours. Notes. Open ascomata releasing spores can be found on needles about 12 months after flushing; the similar species, Lophodermella conjuncta (not yet recorded from Ukraine), can be found only on older needles. Worldwide. Widely distributed throughout Europe on native European pines. References. Millar & Minter (1978) [description]; Minter & Dudka (1996) [Ukrainian records]; Morochovskii, Zerova, Lavitskaya & Smitskaya (1969) [Ukrainian records].