Microsphaeropsis hellebori

Alternative names
Hellebore Leaf Spot
Coniothyrium hellebori
Description

This fungus produces dark brown to black spots with paler concentric rings on the leaves of Hellebore species.  These become elliptical as they develop, and then may spread along the midrib which creates a triangular front.  Spots may coalesce and damage large portions of the leaf.  The small asexual fruiting bodies or pycnidia are embedded in the upper leaf epidermis, usually in paler areas, and release pale brown conidia.   

Identification difficulty

host

Recording advice

Please provide good photographs and state the host plant species. We recommend that this is confirmed by an expert before submission to NatureSpot.

Habitat

on Hellebores, and possibly other plants in the same family. (Clematis and Paeonia are listed as hosts on Plant Parasites of Europe website)

When to see it

The fungal damage can be observed in most months of the year, but is most likely to occur from late winter until summer.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Pleosporales
Family:
Didymellaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
11/02/2023 (Timms, Sue)
Last record:
11/02/2023 (Timms, Sue)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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