Hi Martin

you are fully right! However, the other possibility is that the two species actually differ in their lipid content (study in the living state recommended). Regrettably I do not know these species, but like to follow the discussion here. :-)

Zotto

Hi,
I have found both and even if I don't have a full description, I recall them rather well and macroscopically they are not so similar (but my experience is based only on a few apothecia).
In general, the oil drops may be a useful feature in making a key, but I'm sure that in a full description of all details, including pigmentation, ascus base, layers of the excipulum, shape and size of the cells and so on, it will become possible to found many other differences.
It is true that the oil drops can become invisible in many mounting media, but I think it's mandatory to observe everything in water, at first.
There are a lot of things that you can observe only in certains media: amiloidity in iodine, carminophily in acetocarmine and iron, nuclei with Giemsa stain, and so on... And they may be very, very important!
Regards
Mario

Dear Martin,

a German asco-enthusiast, Peter Püwert, who is reading the forum only, asked me to upload two plates of P. moseri and P. pseudoviolacea/lobulata.
He comments that the synonymy is confusing him as well, multiple collections may lead to further enlightenment.

Regards

Martin

Yes, there is it visible well, the slide was prepared obviously in Melzer´s reagent, but I still want to ask whether it was a dry or a fresh material. Honestly, it is a bad habit not to add the method of the preparation of the slides to the key. It should be the essential part of the proper key.
Thank you all.