Bonjour tous
while preparing some images of Lachnum clavigerum on mossy stem bases of Chamerion angustifolium I noticed an interesting phenomenon in many mature asci. This may be a common feature of this or related fungi, but I have certainly not noticed it before.
The asci as they approach full ripeness develop a vacuole in their upper part with the mature spores more or less biseriately arranged towards the apex. In the lower part of these vacuoles there was often a globose body - very active and constantly kept in motion. These varied from perfect spheres to irregularly-shaped globose bodies; in at least one case (blue arrow in illustrations) there was a twin. Perhaps these globules are a by-product of the build up of turgidity in the ascus before the spores are shot out.
As I say, this may be a common phenomenon and I have simply overlooked it, but I would welcome any comments people might care to make. (All photo's are of living material).

Cordialement
Chris