In April I found what I believe to be Trizodia acrobia in carr woodland in North Wales. This poorly known species would be a new genus to Britain. The only thing is that the ascomata were growing on a waterlogged stick rather than on Sphagnum as in Fungi of Temperate Europe so I was wondering if this is important or if there are other Trizodias out there. Also, I've been told that some lichenologists regard it as a lichen owing to its association with cyanobacteria. I was wondering what the latest state of play is on this.

Here is a description of the North Wales material:

Trizodia acrobia, Morfa Bychan, North Wales, (VC48, SH547369), 13/4/23.
Ascomata consisting of more or less globose, whitish, gelatinous pustules up to c.0.5mm, seated or even immersed in algal scum.
Asci: clavate, rather thick walled, 80-98x14-16µm.
Ascospores: 14-15x7.5-9 µm, pyriform.
Hyphae hyaline, thin to slightly thick-walled, 2-3 wide.
Paraphyses somewhat flexuose, slightly swollen to 3-4.5 at apex, sometimes branching, septate.

Best wishes,

Charles.

Hans-Otto Baral, 14-10-2023 15:46

Re : Trizodia acrobia

Important is to check the iodine reaction. The entire ascus wall should react pale to distinct blue in IKI or MLZ. If inamyloid you must compare Mniaecia.

I have a folder aff. acrobia for some on mosses other than Sphagnum and also on soi, among Gloeocapsa.

Charles Aron, 14-10-2023 19:56

Re : Trizodia acrobia

Hi Zotto, 

Many thanks for your response. Here are a couple of photos showing a very slight blueing of the asci en masse-perhaps my Melzer's needs replacing! Individual asci don't seem to show much reaction. Didn't realise that Mniaecia could be gelatinous like this. 

Best wishes, 

Charles.

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Hans-Otto Baral, 14-10-2023 20:58

Re : Trizodia acrobia

Looks really faintly amyloid. I do not know if KOH-pretreated apos would give a stronger reaction, but in my folders you can see the reaction is  very distinct, also in the literature.

I did not see much gel here, a little gel is often there and hardly visible. I cannot distinguish Mniaecia from Trizodia without the amyloidity. Genetically theys are very diverse.

Charles Aron, 15-10-2023 11:11

Re : Trizodia acrobia

Hi Zotto, 

Thanks for this. I don't think I pretreated the material with KOH. Could have a go with the dried material if I can find where the apos were!

Charles.

Hans-Otto Baral, 21-10-2023 10:04

Re : Trizodia acrobia

Just a question, did you mean 13. April 2023?

Charles Aron, 21-10-2023 13:01

Re : Trizodia acrobia

Hi Zotto, 

Yes, I did! I can see now, got the date wrong. 

Charles.