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Christian Lechat Christian Lechat

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01-10-2004 05:23

Christian Lechat Christian Lechat

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Pithya cupressina with large apothecia looking like P. vulgaris.
Stephen Martin Mifsud, 04-01-2026 17:45
Stephen Martin MifsudI was happy to find these orange asmocyetes which at first glance I identified tentavely as Pithya vulgaris based on the size of the apothecium that ranged between 3.5 to 5.5cm and the substrate being a woody twig. P. cupressina, which I am familiar with, are here found of fallen leaves of Cupressus sempervirens and are up to 3mm wide (mostly barely 2mm).

Can I assign this finding to P. vulgaris or I still need further verifications (microscopical investigations).

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Stephen Martin Mifsud, 05-01-2026 08:22
Stephen Martin Mifsud
Re : Pithya vulgaris (or P. cupressina can still be considered)
Reading this article to help my determination..... not easy as it is in German. Will report back my conclusion. I am posting the link of the paper for other members who might find it useful.

https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Mycologia-Bavarica_10_0055-0062.pdf
Stephen Martin Mifsud, 05-01-2026 09:28
Stephen Martin Mifsud
Re : Pithya vulgaris (or P. cupressina can still be considered)

After reading the paper, these are the most important features to distinguish P. cupressina and P. vulgaris (considered distinct species).


Spore Size (at maturity)
Pithya cupressina: (9) 10-12 (12.5) um
Pithya vulgaris 12-15 um

Substrate Specialization 
Pithya cupressina: Cupressaceae (e.g., Chamaecyparis, Cupressus, Juniperus, Sequoia, Thuja)
Pithya vulgaris: Pinaceae (usually Abies species, occasionally Picea, Pinus)

Size of Apothecia
Pithya cupressina: 2-5 mm wide
Pithya vulgaris: (5-) 10-15 mm wide

My finding was on an unkown twig up to 5.5mm wide and spores with the following measurments:  


9.1 [10.1 ; 10.6] 11.6 × 8.9 [9.9 ; 10.4] 11.3 µm
Q = 1 [1.0] 1.1 ; N = 27 ; C = 95%
Me = 10.4 × 10.1 µm ; Qe = 1



So it is (disappointingly) the usual Pithya cupressina which grew slightly larger up to 5mm possibly because they were growing on a woody twig, while on leaves and leaf petioles  fruiting bodies only reach  1-3mm in diameter (here in Malta). 

Eye-catching are the operculate asci !!! 

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