Metatrichia vesparium

Abstract

Diagnostic features. The clustered sporangia with a distinctive shape and papery texture resembling miniature wasp nests, the shining purple-red sporangia, and the red spore mass all make this an easy species to identify. When stalks are joined this species can look like M. floriformis (Schwein.) Nann.-Bremek., but the spore mass colour is usually sufficient to separate them and, if there is any doubt, the spiny capillitium of M. vesparium is diagnostic.