Fichtennadel-Spaltlippe

Lophodermium piceae is an ascomycete endophyte and pathogen producing lenticular, slit-opening ascocarps on the needles of spruce trees. It inhabits the needle tissue of Picea species in boreal and montane forests across the Northern Hemisphere. This fungus is both an endophytic component of healthy needles and can cause needle cast disease in weakened or stressed spruce trees.