Beech Barkspot (Diatrype disciformis)

A piece of rotting wood with black spots on it - not very exciting is it? However, those small black spots are the visual representation of a living organism, a fungus that is busy inside the dead wood breaking it down and rotting it away back to soil, a vital process in regeneration. This species, as the name suggests, is associated with beech, the spots emerge from under the bark rather than growing on it. It can occur on other broad-leaved wood as well but, most often, it is beech.

I would love to see you trying to scrape it off to eat!
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Find out more about the Beech Barkspot in Dorset here: http://www.natureofdorset.co.uk/species_panel/Beech%20Barkspot%20Fungus?vdt=species_master%7Cpage_1

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