black fungi on bark ID

[Bluecedar]

Finding a lot of this black fungi on bark of lime and sycamore, what is it please? It does not mark your fingers, it is hard to the touch, is smooth and thin, so it's not any sooty bark disease type of thing I don't think. Looks fairly harmless but would like to know what it is.

 

[Arbgirl]

Are you sure its not paint?

 

Is it on a lime tree?

[Bluecedar]

It's not paint, this tree in first post pic is a lime.

more pics here, sorry for quality of second, sycamore in first one below.

 

Edited June 20, 2011 by Bluecedar

[Arbgirl]

Well my only suggestion is epicormic paint

[armybloke]

May not be a fungi but a lichen - worth looking that up trooper

[Bluecedar]

Ok here it is again on deadwood (beech I think), pretty sure it's not a lichen!

[PhilBeech]

Ustulina?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Diatrype stigma, but theres a lot of these little ascomycetes that form black crusts, so 100% get the scopes out, first one on lime IS paint

[PhilBeech]

Thanks