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ALEURIA CONGREX (PEZIZALES) New to Britain, with a key to British species of Aleuria
Vol 12 (3)
ALEURIA CONGREX ( PEZIZALES ) New to Britain, with a key to British species of Aleuria Brian Spooner* he so-called ‘orange peel fungus’, Aleuria aurantia (Pers.) Fuckel, is familiar to many. It is a common and distinctive species, with comparatively large, orange fruitbodies occurring, sometimes in swarms, on bare soil and at path edges. It is the lectotype species of Aleuria Fuckel (Pezizales: Pyronemataceae). The genus has a wide distribution in both northern and southern hemispheres, comprising species which are terrestrial saprotrophs, their apothecia usually developed on soil or litter. They are orange to yellow due to the presence of carotenoid pigments, and typically lack differentiated hairs. In addition, they have iodinenegative asci and ellipsoid, usually biguttulate, spores which bear a well-developed ornamentation. The true number of species referable to the genus worldwide is uncertain. A monograph by Häffner (1993) included just seven, with three others insufficiently known but this number will increase if species currently referred to Melastiza Boud. are included. This comprises species similar to those of Aleuria with regard to ecology and morphology, but with pigmented marginal hairs. It was treated as a subgenus of Aleuria by Moravec (1994), and the type species at least (M. cornubiensis (Berk. & Br.) J. Mor., perhaps more familiar as M. chateri), was confirmed by Perry et al. (2007) to be closely related to Aleuria. It should perhaps be noted that the name Aleuria was misapplied by Boudier (1885, 1907) for species of Peziza with smooth spores, as a result of which many additional names have been referred to the genus. Some of these still require reassessment, but British names in Aleuria were reviewed by Spooner & Yao (1995) who retained just two in the genus in addition to A. aurantia, viz. A. cestrica (Ellis & Everh.) Seaver (see back cover) and A. luteonitens (Berk. & Broome) Gillet. The first is a rare species first reported by Dennis (1971) and still known in Britain from just three records (Herts, West Sussex, Yorks). The latter is more widely distributed but scarce, with only six records since 1960. Both occur
on wet soil, sometimes with small mosses, but their exact habitat requirements are unclear. Ellis & Ellis (1988) included these three, and also A. palustris (Boud.) Le Gal. The latter is a little-known species which actually belongs in Peziza although the few British records of this name can be referred to at least two different taxa. Additional to these three is A. congrex, recently collected for the first time in Britain from Buckinghamshire. This is reported here with a brief description, and a key to distinguish the four British species is given.
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Aleuria congrex (P. Karst.) Svrcek, Česká Mykol. 35(1): 23 (1981) Peziza congrex P. Karst., in Thümen, Mycoth. Univ. no. 717 (1885) Humaria congrex (P. Karst.) Sacc., Syll. fung. 8: 134 (1889) Octospora congrex (P. Karst.) Svrček & Kubička, Česká Mykol. 17: 65 (1963) Aleuria pectinospora Svrček, Stud. Bot. Čech. 9: 136 (1948) Aleuria bicucullata sensu Moravec, Česká Mykol. 26: 76 (1972) Apothecia 3–6 (–10) mm diam., sessile, at first hemispherical, becoming discoid, plane or slightly convex, gregarious to clustered, disc orange-yellow, outer surface slightly paler, smooth but with basal anchoring hyphae. Asci 190–210 x 15–19 µm, 8spored. Ascospores ellipsoid, 15–17 x 7.5–8.5 µm (excl. ornament), ornamented with a partial reticulum and irregular crests to c. 2 µm high, more prominent, to 3.5 µm high, at the poles. Paraphyses filiform, obtuse, straight or slightly curved above, apex usually slightly clavate, 3 – 6 µm diam., containing yellow-orange pigment. Fig. 1. Specimens examined: Buckinghamshire, Stoke Common, amongst debris with Calluna & Betula sp., 23 Oct. 2010, J. Schafer, K(M)167328. Finland, Mustiala, on sandy soil, Sept. 1876, Herb. Phillips (ex P.A. Karsten, de Thümen, Mycotheca Universalis 717), K(M)168775 (Isotype).
*Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AB
doi:10.1016/j.fldmyc.2011.03.006
54
Vol 12 (3)
REFERENCES
This species was illustrated by Moravec (1972; as A. bicucullata), who described in addition to the coarse ornament a fine, dense cyanophilic reticulum on the spore surface. This was also shown by Häffner (1993), and is visible in the present collection. Häffner (1993) examined isotype material of A. congrex and clarified the concept of the species, which is confirmed here. Aleuria bicucullata Boud. differs in having smaller spores (10–12 x 6–7.5 µm) with more massive, ridge or wing-like ornament especially towards the poles, and is not yet known in Britain. Aleuria congrex has small, clustered, orangeyellow apothecia rather similar to those of A. cestrica, but can be distinguished from that, and other species, on spore characters. It occurs on damp soil and plant debris but its exact habitat requirements are again uncertain. It is evidently a rare species in Europe, hitherto known only from Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
Boudier, E. (1885). Nouvelle classification naturelle des Discomycètes charnus. Bull. Soc. Mycol. France 1 : 91–120. Boudier, E. (1907). Histoire et Classification des Discomycètes d’Europe. Paris : Paul Klincksieck. Dennis, R.W.G. (1971). New or interesting British microfungi. Kew Bull. 25: 335 – 374. Ellis, M.B. & Ellis, J.P. (1988). Fungi on Miscellaneous Substrates. An Identification Handbook. Croom Helm. Häffner, J. (1993). Die gattung Aleuria. Rheinl.-Pfälz. Pilzj. 3: 6–59. Moravec, J. (1972). Operculate discomycetes of the genera Aleuria Fuck. and Melastiza
Boud. from
the district of Mladá Boleslav (Bohemia). Česká Mykol. 26: 74–81. Moravec, J. (1994). Melastiza (Boud.) comb. et stat. nov. – a subgenus of the genus Aleuria Fuck. emend nov. (Discomycetes, Pezizales). Čzech Mycol. 47(4): 237–259. Perry, B.A., Hansen, K., & Pfister, D.H. (2007). A
Key to British species of ALEURIA
phylogenetic overview of the family
(ascospore measurement excluding the ornamentation)
Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales). Mycol. Res. 111: 549–571.
1. Ascospores large, (13.0 -) 14.5 - 16.5 x 7.0 - 9.0 µm; apothecia various in size...............................2 1. Ascospores smaller than 13 x 7.0 µm; apothecia mostly 3 – 20 mm diam .......................3
Spooner, B.M. & Yao, Y.-J. (1995). Notes on British taxa referred to Aleuria. Mycol. Res. 99: 1515–1518.
2. Ascospores ornamented with a regular reticulum, apiculate at poles; apothecia large, 30–80 (–120) mm diam., disc orange ...........................................................A. aurantia 2. Ascospores ornamented with coarse, usually branching ridges, sometimes forming an incomplete reticulum, mostly thicker and more prominent at poles; apothecia small, 3–10 mm diam., disc orange-yellow ...A. congrex 3. Ascospores 10.0 - 12.0 (- 13) x 6.0 - 7.0 µm, ornamented with irregular, usually branching ridges occasionally forming an incomplete reticulum; disc golden-yellow, mostly 10–20 mm diam.............................A. luteonitens 3. Ascospores 7.0 - 9.0 x 4.0 - 5.5 µm, ornamented with an almost complete reticulum; disc orange-yellow, mostly 3 – 6 mm diam. .............................................................A. cestrica
Figs 1. & 2. Aleuria congrex, K(M)167328. Fig. 1. Apothecia. Fig. 2. Ascospores. Bar = 10 μm.
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ALEURIA CONGREX ( PEZIZALES ) New to Britain, with a key to British species of Aleuria Brian Spooner* he so-called ‘orange peel fungus’, Aleuria aurantia (Pers.) Fuckel, is familiar to many. It is a common and distinctive species, with comparatively large, orange fruitbodies occurring, sometimes in swarms, on bare soil and at path edges. It is the lectotype species of Aleuria Fuckel (Pezizales: Pyronemataceae). The genus has a wide distribution in both northern and southern hemispheres, comprising species which are terrestrial saprotrophs, their apothecia usually developed on soil or litter. They are orange to yellow due to the presence of carotenoid pigments, and typically lack differentiated hairs. In addition, they have iodinenegative asci and ellipsoid, usually biguttulate, spores which bear a well-developed ornamentation. The true number of species referable to the genus worldwide is uncertain. A monograph by Häffner (1993) included just seven, with three others insufficiently known but this number will increase if species currently referred to Melastiza Boud. are included. This comprises species similar to those of Aleuria with regard to ecology and morphology, but with pigmented marginal hairs. It was treated as a subgenus of Aleuria by Moravec (1994), and the type species at least (M. cornubiensis (Berk. & Br.) J. Mor., perhaps more familiar as M. chateri), was confirmed by Perry et al. (2007) to be closely related to Aleuria. It should perhaps be noted that the name Aleuria was misapplied by Boudier (1885, 1907) for species of Peziza with smooth spores, as a result of which many additional names have been referred to the genus. Some of these still require reassessment, but British names in Aleuria were reviewed by Spooner & Yao (1995) who retained just two in the genus in addition to A. aurantia, viz. A. cestrica (Ellis & Everh.) Seaver (see back cover) and A. luteonitens (Berk. & Broome) Gillet. The first is a rare species first reported by Dennis (1971) and still known in Britain from just three records (Herts, West Sussex, Yorks). The latter is more widely distributed but scarce, with only six records since 1960. Both occur
on wet soil, sometimes with small mosses, but their exact habitat requirements are unclear. Ellis & Ellis (1988) included these three, and also A. palustris (Boud.) Le Gal. The latter is a little-known species which actually belongs in Peziza although the few British records of this name can be referred to at least two different taxa. Additional to these three is A. congrex, recently collected for the first time in Britain from Buckinghamshire. This is reported here with a brief description, and a key to distinguish the four British species is given.
T
Aleuria congrex (P. Karst.) Svrcek, Česká Mykol. 35(1): 23 (1981) Peziza congrex P. Karst., in Thümen, Mycoth. Univ. no. 717 (1885) Humaria congrex (P. Karst.) Sacc., Syll. fung. 8: 134 (1889) Octospora congrex (P. Karst.) Svrček & Kubička, Česká Mykol. 17: 65 (1963) Aleuria pectinospora Svrček, Stud. Bot. Čech. 9: 136 (1948) Aleuria bicucullata sensu Moravec, Česká Mykol. 26: 76 (1972) Apothecia 3–6 (–10) mm diam., sessile, at first hemispherical, becoming discoid, plane or slightly convex, gregarious to clustered, disc orange-yellow, outer surface slightly paler, smooth but with basal anchoring hyphae. Asci 190–210 x 15–19 µm, 8spored. Ascospores ellipsoid, 15–17 x 7.5–8.5 µm (excl. ornament), ornamented with a partial reticulum and irregular crests to c. 2 µm high, more prominent, to 3.5 µm high, at the poles. Paraphyses filiform, obtuse, straight or slightly curved above, apex usually slightly clavate, 3 – 6 µm diam., containing yellow-orange pigment. Fig. 1. Specimens examined: Buckinghamshire, Stoke Common, amongst debris with Calluna & Betula sp., 23 Oct. 2010, J. Schafer, K(M)167328. Finland, Mustiala, on sandy soil, Sept. 1876, Herb. Phillips (ex P.A. Karsten, de Thümen, Mycotheca Universalis 717), K(M)168775 (Isotype).
*Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AB
doi:10.1016/j.fldmyc.2011.03.006
54
Vol 12 (3)
REFERENCES
This species was illustrated by Moravec (1972; as A. bicucullata), who described in addition to the coarse ornament a fine, dense cyanophilic reticulum on the spore surface. This was also shown by Häffner (1993), and is visible in the present collection. Häffner (1993) examined isotype material of A. congrex and clarified the concept of the species, which is confirmed here. Aleuria bicucullata Boud. differs in having smaller spores (10–12 x 6–7.5 µm) with more massive, ridge or wing-like ornament especially towards the poles, and is not yet known in Britain. Aleuria congrex has small, clustered, orangeyellow apothecia rather similar to those of A. cestrica, but can be distinguished from that, and other species, on spore characters. It occurs on damp soil and plant debris but its exact habitat requirements are again uncertain. It is evidently a rare species in Europe, hitherto known only from Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
Boudier, E. (1885). Nouvelle classification naturelle des Discomycètes charnus. Bull. Soc. Mycol. France 1 : 91–120. Boudier, E. (1907). Histoire et Classification des Discomycètes d’Europe. Paris : Paul Klincksieck. Dennis, R.W.G. (1971). New or interesting British microfungi. Kew Bull. 25: 335 – 374. Ellis, M.B. & Ellis, J.P. (1988). Fungi on Miscellaneous Substrates. An Identification Handbook. Croom Helm. Häffner, J. (1993). Die gattung Aleuria. Rheinl.-Pfälz. Pilzj. 3: 6–59. Moravec, J. (1972). Operculate discomycetes of the genera Aleuria Fuck. and Melastiza
Boud. from
the district of Mladá Boleslav (Bohemia). Česká Mykol. 26: 74–81. Moravec, J. (1994). Melastiza (Boud.) comb. et stat. nov. – a subgenus of the genus Aleuria Fuck. emend nov. (Discomycetes, Pezizales). Čzech Mycol. 47(4): 237–259. Perry, B.A., Hansen, K., & Pfister, D.H. (2007). A
Key to British species of ALEURIA
phylogenetic overview of the family
(ascospore measurement excluding the ornamentation)
Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales). Mycol. Res. 111: 549–571.
1. Ascospores large, (13.0 -) 14.5 - 16.5 x 7.0 - 9.0 µm; apothecia various in size...............................2 1. Ascospores smaller than 13 x 7.0 µm; apothecia mostly 3 – 20 mm diam .......................3
Spooner, B.M. & Yao, Y.-J. (1995). Notes on British taxa referred to Aleuria. Mycol. Res. 99: 1515–1518.
2. Ascospores ornamented with a regular reticulum, apiculate at poles; apothecia large, 30–80 (–120) mm diam., disc orange ...........................................................A. aurantia 2. Ascospores ornamented with coarse, usually branching ridges, sometimes forming an incomplete reticulum, mostly thicker and more prominent at poles; apothecia small, 3–10 mm diam., disc orange-yellow ...A. congrex 3. Ascospores 10.0 - 12.0 (- 13) x 6.0 - 7.0 µm, ornamented with irregular, usually branching ridges occasionally forming an incomplete reticulum; disc golden-yellow, mostly 10–20 mm diam.............................A. luteonitens 3. Ascospores 7.0 - 9.0 x 4.0 - 5.5 µm, ornamented with an almost complete reticulum; disc orange-yellow, mostly 3 – 6 mm diam. .............................................................A. cestrica
Figs 1. & 2. Aleuria congrex, K(M)167328. Fig. 1. Apothecia. Fig. 2. Ascospores. Bar = 10 μm.
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