Cher Gilbert

I am convinced that this is Hymenosc. subferrugineus. Quite a common species especially in the region around the Alps, but it occurs also in England and Scandinavia, from where it was originally described by Phillips (on bark, as Hymenoscypha broomei) and Nylander (on branch of Ribes alpinum). 

The spores are slightly scutuloid, with an asymmetry at the apex, so that it is possible to say which is the upper and lower end. This is not possible in H. epiphyllus and H. laetus.

Zotto

Bonsoir Zotto,
Un grand merci  pour la détermination et pour les explications.
Gilbert

Bonsoir Gilbert et Zotto, 

Ton intérêt pour les Helotiales maintenant fait plaisir à voir, Gilbert !

Je n'ai pas l'habitude de cette espèce à l'ouest de la France , alors que epiphyllus y est très commun . Peut être devrais je reprendre l'étude de certaines récoltes non abouties... Do you know, Zotto, whether the finds in England and Northern Europe wera collected in mountainous areas ?

Amitiés
Michel

Hi Michel

I am likewise pleased about Gilbert's passion :-) 

To your question: Ribes alpinum sounds so, and H. broomei was collected in Somersetshire (unlocalized). Ah, there is a further synonym: Helotium sublateritium Berk. & Broome from Scotland, Angus, Glamis. you know these old Guys were usually rather unprecise with their localities.

I frequently collected this species in the Calcarean Alps, but it occurs also in lowlands, for instance near Tübingen, Heidelberg or Chemnitz (all in colline altitude). Also in Asturias at Picos de Europa or Huesca, Pyrenees.

Forgot to add that H. calyculus is not easily separable. I still believe the two are different. interestingly, we have several sequences of H. subferrugineus and they are all practically identical. Also some of H. calyculus exist but these are rather different from each other and should concern different species, but all are quite distant from subferrugineus.

Zotto

Hi Zotto and Michel,
I will pay a visit to Gilbert soon and take care that he won't plunge into such odd stuff like Hymenoscyphus all too much!
You're welcome!
Marcel

Thanks Zotto, 
H. calyculus and subferrugineus seem very close indeed.  

(Marcel, I feel sure you will also appreciate inoperculates once you will have tasted Helotiales :-) 

Michel

Already tried this wine:tasted like vinegar, dear Michel.
But who knows maybe a pastime for life after death?
M.