Two Hymenoscyphus species on beech mast

[SheffieldLass]

I found what appear to be two different Hymenoscyphus species on beech mast the other day.

The first I'm pretty sure is Hymenoscypus fructigenus. Spore size
(15.0) 16.2-18.3 (19.4) x (5.2) 5.4-6.0 (6.2) um Qav 3



For some reason I checked the others, hadn't realised they were different, though they were a bit whiter and shorter stalked. I noticed that the spores though similarly shaped were quite a bit smaller, as were the asci. I think these may be H rokebyensis.
Spore sizes
(11.0) 11.2-12.7 (13.4) x (3.5) 4.3-5.1 (5.2) um, Qav 2.6
If they are H rokebyensis then the asci are supposed to arise from croziers. I can convince myself that croziers are present, but to be honest I've not looked for them before so could easily be mistaken.





Are croziers, or notches where they were, present?

Cheers
Melanie

[SheffieldLass]

Trying again ...

[SheffieldLass]

As I seem to be talking to myself, I might as well continue - this post helps with one but not the other, though a more recent key has H fructigenus on quite a few different tree fruit/seed casings ...

Fungi on Hazel Shell for ID please

For the second the presence of croziers would clinch it, hence my original question. Are croziers visible?

BTW the key (to the genus HYMENOSCYPHUS S.F.Gray sensu lato) which I mentioned above can be found online, which I used to get to the names in the first place. Along with Dennis and Ellis and Ellis. There it has 3 varieties of H fructigenus - v coryli on hazel, v carpini on hornbeam, v fructigenus on fallen cupules and fruits of Acer pseudoplatanus, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fagus sylvatica, Juglans, Quercus robur, Tilia, cones of Alnus glutinosa, twigs of Quercus robur

"Excipulum of textura prismatica-porrecta. Apothecia 1-3 mm diameter, creamy white, with short to long
stalk. Asci90-110x10-10,5 μm, arising from croziers. Spores subclavate, 10-16x4-5 μm, with many large
and small guttules, OCI = 4-5. On cupules of Fagus. Phen.: VIII-X.
Hymenoscyphus rokebyensis (Svrcek) Matheis

Apothecia 1-4(5) mm diameter, pale ivory, pale to ochraceous yellow, reddening, with long stalk. Asci
110-140x8-10 μm. Spores (0)1(3)-septate, 14-24x3,5-5 μm, slightly constricted at the septum, with many
up to 2 μm diam. guttules, OCI = 4-5, with 1-4 about 1 μm long cilia at both ends. On fallen cupules and
fruits of Acer pseudoplatanus, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fagus sylvatica, Juglans, Quercus robur, Tilia,
cones of Alnus glutinosa, twigs of Quercus robur. Phen.: VIII-X(I).
Hymenoscyphus fructigenus (Bull.) Gray var. fructigenus

Apothecia turbinate, with flat to convex disk, 1-3 mm diameter, white to greyish blue, drying pale reddish
brown, sessile or with short stout stalk, fleshy, base with brownish ring. Asci 70-95x9-9,5 μm. Spores 8-
13(16) x4-5(6) μm, OCI = 0-1. Paraphyses with a low refractive cylindrical body. Excipulum of textura
globulosa-angularis. On cupules of Fagus. Phen.: IX-XI.
Phaeohelotium fagineum (Pers.) Declercq comb. nov.
º Hymenoscyphus fagineus (Pers.) Dennis

From these descriptions would you come to the same conclusions as I have?

Melanie

[flaxton]

yes

[fairplay]

Yes please Melanie.

Neil.

[Chris Yeates]

having collected it at the weekend and spent quite a while working through Declerq's key I think that your second one is his Phaeohelotium fagineum

Chris

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

having collected it at the weekend and spent quite a while working through Declerq's key I think that your second one is his Phaeohelotium fagineum

Chris

What is "Basal ectal excipulum texture"? A difference between the two is that one is prismatic, the other angular. Not sure if I'll have any mciro photos with the relevant detail though. I dismissed Phaeohelotium fagineum on the shape of the fungus ... mine were generally dished rather than flat to convex.

Melanie

[Chris Yeates]

check out: Leotiomycetes - Helotiales I wouldn't go too much on gross shape, it can be variable throughout the development of the fungus; though I would expect rokebyensis to have a longer stem than yours

Chris