Help with a few ascos please?

[stickman]

Hi all

Three from today, first a Peziza -



Spores av. 20.7 x 10.7 um, smooth.
Paraphyses 2-4 septate, filimorm, not constricted at septae, some with swollen tips.

I think number 2 is a Geoglossum, maybe G.cookeanum? -



Spores av. 85 x 6.1 um, 4-7septate.
Asci av. 165 um.
Paraphyses 1-3 septate, hooked/amorphous tips, slightly constricted at septae.

Last is a good match for B&K's entry for Leucoscypha leucotrichia although I'm a little hesitant as it seems fairly scarce and I can't find any info on the other members of the genus recorded on the FRDBI. -



Fruitbodies 3-6mm, sessile, on very rotten wood.
Spores av. 29 x 13 um, with two droplets. ~50% of spores are strongly warted.
Paraphyses 0-3 septate, filiform.
Hairs hyaline, pointed, smooth, septate.

Although I find B&K often points me in the right direction with these ascos, it sometimes doesn't include sufficient info on many common (UK) species for me to come to a definate ID. Would I be correct in thinking that Ellis & Ellis "Microfungi..." would tie up some of these loose ends for me?

Cheers, Nick.

[Ditiola]

Hi Nick
I will let others suggest some names. There has been a recent post with a link to Geoglossum keys.

Ellis & Ellis 'Microfungi on Land Plants' does what it says in the title, so only includes the ascomycetes associated with land plants, and is arranged in plant then substrate order, therefore does not cover those on soil, plaster, fungi, feathers etc. There is a second volume called Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates' to take care of the non plant microfungi. There is also Nordic Macromycets Vol. 1 this is keys to Ascomycetes. A second-hand copy of Dennis is also useful but is getting out of date with recent taxamomical changes.

Peter

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Ditiola

Hi Nick
...... There is also Nordic Macromycets Vol. 1 this is keys to Ascomycetes. ....

Peter

I've been trying to get hold of a second hand copy of this for ages - it seems to be rarer than hen's teeth. Hopefully this will be republished as a companion to Funga Nordica at some point in the future. Getting access to up-to-date keys to the asco's does seem to be a problem which is why I might seem to rely a lot on the good folk on this site for help.

[Ditiola]

Rob
I will keep a look-out for a copy. I did not know it was out of print.

Peter

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Ditiola

Rob
I will keep a look-out for a copy. I did not know it was out of print.

Peter

Thanks Peter that's very kind of you - I've searched most of the on-line secondhand book suppliers to no avail so if you did come across a copy that would be good news.