Hi David
I have not my documents with me, but I think you should consider Scutellinia cejpii, well illustrated on ascofrance http://www.ascofrance.fr/search_recolte/1879
shape and size of spores remind me this species.
regards
Francois

Many thanks Francois.

Is S. macrospora  possible as well? I don't have much literature on Scutellinia but on MycoKey   the spore size is a little long for S.cejpii but in range for S. macrospora and the ornamentation looks similar. 

Regards

David

yes it is a possibilty. With Schumacher's key you can separate them using the width of the hairs
http://www.ascofrance.fr/search_recolte/2973?

I measured 20 hairs at the widest point (16) 20.7 - 28.7 (30.2) . I don't have  Schumacher's key.

I remembered S. macrospora was covered in the paper "New and noteworthy records of Pezizomycetes in Sweden and the Nordic countries" Ibai Olariaga and Karen Hansen.

It does look very similar but there is no mention of hair width in that paper.

Regards

David

Adio David,
Adio François,

In my opinion (and I'm agree with François in his first idea), this collection represents certainly S. cejpii. But it's not sure because we can't see sporal ornementation.

Some questions :
- Habitat : Is it on soil, on wood, in coniferous forest, in slow mountain area, acid soil... ?
- Hairs : Are walls of receptacular and marginal hairs different ?
- Have you seen some asymetric spores ?

I put you two articles of mine, one on S. cejpii and one on S. macrospora. You can compare some details on hairs and form of spores. But, if it's possible, it will be better if you can obtain a sporogram.

Beñat

PS : If it's possible, you can send me one apothecia and, perhaps, I will try to obtain identification.

Many thanks Beñat.

It was found in what I would call acid, wet, rich soil under a small group of Pinus, at low altitude. That does fit with the habitat you have described for Scutellinia cejpii.  I am attempting a sporogram and have dried some samples. Could you e-mail me your address to send a specimen. I will look at the hairs again and pay attention to the marginal hair roots. I don't think I saw asymetric spores.

I have to go away for three days. Hopefully there will be spores when I return.

Regards

David

Adio David,

Thanks in advance. I have sended you my address by mail.

In fact, your habitat fits very well with my hypothesis on S. cejpii biotope : acid soil under coniferous trees.
I hope we can verify all of this with this collection,

All the best,
Beñat

Hello,

I have sent an apothecia to  Beñat.  I found only 2 spores (ejected) but hopefully it is enough. 28 x 13.5 microns.

I looked at the marginal hairs and some of them had tri-furcate roots and were slightly wider than the rest but none had thick walls  . Interestingly I found two hairs that were "forked" in to two branches.

The ornamentation on the spores seems to be about 0.5 - 0.8 microns deep.

Here are some photos.

David

I have sent some to Beñat but they took too long to get to him so were not in good condition. I have had a look again and the marginal hairs do have tangled multi-furcate roots. I think it all confirms Scutellini cejpii as Francois and Beñat suggested.

Here is a composite of naturally ejected spores in Cotton Blue stain.

Adio David,

The second box is arrived in good state but I'm sorry, I have forgot to inform you. In fact, I'm really busy at this moment because this is period of exams for my students.
I have treated them yesterday evening and that reveals a very interesting species :
Scutellinia mirabilis.

Hairs are typical and all of the spores characteristics correspond perfectly (sporal ornementation, perispore loosening in CB heated at boiling point, sizes...)

It's very interesting and if the location is near to your house, I will be very glad if you can collect and send me more fresh apothecia for my study of this genus (I need more collections to make different treatments and more investigations, SEM, DNA...).

Around this species, you have the very interesting article by our colleague René here : http://www.ascomycete.org/portals/0/volumes/AscomyceteOrg%2002-01%2025-31.pdf

This rare species is known from your country (see Yao & Spooner) but I'm not sure because I have revised herbaria and the known collections don't correspond.

I put some photos of spores here.

Sorry again for the delay of response,
Sincerely,
Beñat

Thank you Beñat.

That is very interesting.

I have  gathered a little more for you. It is in a box with moss. Is the box OK in the fridge (3 degrees) until Monday or should it be open to the air at room temperature?

Regards

David

Adio David,

Thanks and see your mail box.

Beñat