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Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
Edvin Johannesen,
17-08-2020 14:56
Hi!
This tiny (1-1.5 mm diam.) inoperculate discomycete was growing on old culms of Juncus trifidus ("probably", according to the collector who is botanically inclined) 1230 m a.s.l., which is alpine zone above the timberline in Central Norway. The habitat is described as bog/mire.
Spores are initially non-septate, but eventually develop one septum. They measure (16-)17-18(-20) x 5-6 microns and contain several guttules of varying size (live spores in water). Paraphyses are guttulate and contain yellow pigment. The apothecia are soft and do not appear to be gelatinized. I have not tested IKI reaction, doubting that it would be of major significance.
I was (mis?)lead in the direction of Calycina scolochloae, but I think that is a wrong track.
Any suggestion?
Thanks!
Edvin
Hans-Otto Baral,
17-08-2020 16:00
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
This actually requires the iodine reaction (Lugol). Shape of the ring in a turgorless ascus is necessary to see, also the colour. Croziers present?
Edvin Johannesen,
17-08-2020 16:11
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
Thanks, Zotto. I guess a turgorless ascus is one that has discharged the spores? I will try also to show the ascus basis. KOH, washing and then Lugol (or Baral's - I have both)?
Edvin Johannesen,
18-08-2020 12:47
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
This is after KOH treatment, twice washing with water, and then Lugol. Immature asci are stained orange, less so upon maturation, it seems. I am uncertain about ascus apparatus staining - possibly a very thin ring (blue).
Edvin Johannesen,
18-08-2020 12:50
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
This is with Lugol only.
Edvin Johannesen,
18-08-2020 12:52
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
And I believe there are croziers.
Hans-Otto Baral,
18-08-2020 22:04
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
So it is clearly with croziers, and the asci are clearly inamyloid in my estimation. I have no clear idea, the only being Phaeohelotium monticola on an unusual substrate, with unusually long apothecial stipes.
Edvin Johannesen,
19-08-2020 10:50
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
Thanks, Zotto. I suspect I might have the same as Maren Kamke found back in 2015: >
Although the spores are slightly larger in our collection. Not sure in what medium Karen measured, though.
Hans-Otto Baral,
19-08-2020 11:01
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
Indeed! Maren surely also used water. Your spores actually are a bit too large for the species.
Edvin Johannesen,
19-08-2020 11:15
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
Thanks!
Edvin Johannesen,
20-08-2020 12:56
Re : Tiny yellow apothecia on Juncus trifidus in alpine habitat
I have now re-measured the spores and updated the numbers in the original post. They measure mostly 17-18 x 5-6 microns in water. Rarely shorter (16), and never narrower. A few spores 19-20 long. Still slightly larger than Maren Kamkes collection, but I feel more comfortable now, that they are the same.