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Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
Edvin Johannesen,
10-07-2021 23:17
Hi!
These tiny (1-3 mm diam) stalked apothecia were growing on Eriophorum angustifolium culms in a very wet place (submerged), 850 m alt. in Norway. Hymenium flat or slightly convex, stipe with a slight pinkish hue. No sclerotium or stromatised tissue, so I guess not Sclerotiniaceae.
Asci 65-80 x 7-9 micr, IKI neg. No croziers seen. Paraphyses ca. 5 micr broad, filled with slightly yellowish guttules. Spores 19-25 x 3-4 micr, fusiform, often bent, tending to form a lump at the ascus upper half and released as such. All photos from fresh material, mounted in water.
I am not even sure what genus this is. Does anyone?
Thanks.
Hans-Otto Baral,
11-07-2021 08:22
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
Hi Edvin
 I would not say tiny :-)
One would perhaps expect an Ombrophila like O. pileata with this macroscopy but the guttulate paraphyses (VBs) refer this fungus to Helotiaceae.
Did you study the excipulum? Probably neither a gelatinous medulla nor a thick-walled ectal exc. like in Cyathicula.
No idea at present.
Zotto
Edvin Johannesen,
11-07-2021 10:31
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
Thanks, Zotto. No, by my usual standards, it's not tiny. But relatively speaking it was, since I was looking for Ciborinia ciborium :)
I will study the excipulum and get back.
Cheers.
Edvin Johannesen,
13-07-2021 13:58
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
It seems like excipulum is texura porrecta. No sign of gelatinised tissue. Does this help?
Hans-Otto Baral,
15-07-2021 10:57
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
Despite the narrow spores and lack of gel I am reminded of Cyathicula megalospora. That species has a strong t. oblita (see HB 5885 and 9396-2) and spores at least *5.5-6 µm wide.
Edvin Johannesen,
17-07-2021 15:36
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
Thanks, Zotto! I will look further into that track.
Regards.
Edvin Johannesen,
20-07-2021 11:26
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
OK, so the spores are indeed wider than originally posted, i.e. mostly 5-7.5 microns. I think it is difficult to see the lumen and decide whether it's t. porrecta or t. oblita, but there seems to be a genatinized layer (in KOH), also supported by the texture when handled fresh. I totally agree with Cyathicula (Crocicreas?) megalospora. :-)
Hans-Otto Baral,
20-07-2021 11:44
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
Good! No, it is a Cyathicula. Crocicreas has lanceolate paraphyses without visible contents.
Edvin Johannesen,
21-07-2021 11:36
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
Got it. It that case it should be corrected in Index/Species Fungorum, where C. megalosporum is the "current name".
Cheers!
Hans-Otto Baral,
21-07-2021 16:52
Re : Tiny 'Helotium' on Eriophorum angustifolium culms
You are right, but such correction needs a formal new combination, and such things should only be done after critical review, including typie identity and possible earlier synonyms.