Birch Woodwort - the acid test !

This photo shows ID work by Phil Amies - on the left is Annulohypoxylon multiforme (upper left) and after treatment in 10% KOH showing the development of characteristic brown stain (lower left). On the right is a rather similar 'Hypoxylon', showing no reaction to 10% KOH. The Hypoxylon genus has been split into 6 genus, with the species in the current Hypoxylon and our Annulohypoxylon showing this brown stain in KOH. The right-hand specimen is possibly in the genus Nemania perhaps Nemania serpens, though further chemical tests will be needed to confirm this.