Urnula ailaoshanensis J. R. Lu, Y. Zhang & Q. Zhao, 2023

Lu, Jin-Rong, Yu, Feng-Ming, Zhou, De-Qun, Lu, Zhi-Yun, Zhang, Ying & Zhao, Qi, 2023, Two novel species of Urnula (Sarcosomataceae, Pezizales) from Yunnan, China, Phytotaxa 619 (1), pp. 86-96 : 91-92

Urnula ailaoshanensis J. R. Lu, Y. Zhang & Q. Zhao sp. nov. Fig. 2

Index Fungorum number: IF 900885; FacesofFungi number: FOF 14797

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the locality from where the type species was collected.

Holotype: HKAS 129212

Diagnosis: Different from other Urnula species by its reddish-brown hymenium when young, and ocher when mature.

Description:

Apothecia saucer- or bowl-shaped cup, 3–5 cm diam., and 1.5–3 cm high, subsessile; margin entire and involute. Hymenium surface glabrous, reddish brown with lacquer gloss. External surface velvety, towards juncture to stem folded or veined, veins joined to give the reticulate appearance, blackish to brownish black.

External hairs hyphoid, cylindrical, septate, subhyaline, light yellowish brown, brown to dark brown, undulated, surface dotted densely tubercles/warts, and some places heavily encrusted by an amber brown to dark brown pigments, 3.5–7 μm in diameter, thick walls, 0.5–2 μm. Ectacl excipulum of textura globosa to textura angularis, 22–35 μm thick, cells 8–13 μm wide, yellowish brown, dark black when gathered. Medullary excipulum of loose textura intricata immersed in a gelatinous matrix, with cylindrical, 1,440 –1,650 μm thick, hyaline or yellowish, hyphae 1–4 μm wide. Asci cylindrical, with a tapered or attenuated base, 8-spored, 465–600 × 21–30 μm, non-amyloid. Ascospores uniseriate, ellipsoid, inequilateral, sometimes slightly bended, reniform-like, smooth-walled, some ascospores with guttulae, 29–34.5 × 11.5–17 μm (n= 40, Q = 1.9–2.5). Paraphyses filiform, slightly extending the length of the asci, 2–4 μm dia. wide, septate, flexuous, irregular protuberances, and amorphous pigment in the upper part.

Habitat: On the fallen rotten wood surrounded by mosses.

Distribution: Currently only known in Yunnan Province, China.

Material examined: CHINA, Yunnan Province, Puer City, Jingdong County, Ailao Mountain , alt. 2500 m, 24Aug. 2022, Jin-Rong Lu, LJR180 ( HKAS129212 ); same location, 26 Aug. 2022, Jin-Rong Lu, LJR241 ( HKAS129213 ) .

Notes: Urnula ailaoshanensis is characterized by saucer- or bowl-shaped cup apothecia, reddish-brown to ocher hymenium with glabrous surface, one type of external hair, cylindrical asci with a tapered or attenuated base, and ellipsoid, sometimes reniform-like ascospores. Urnula ailaoshanensis is similar to U. himalayana K. Das & D. Chakr on the gross morphology. However, the hymenial surface of the former is brighter than that of the latter. Compared with U. himalayana , U. ailaoshanensis has obviously larger asci (300–410 × 14–17 μm vs. 465–600 × 21–30 μm), and longer ascospores (10–13.8 μm in length vs. 11.5–17 μm in length). In addition, the external hairs of both species are also different, U. ailaoshanensis has only one type while U. himalayana mainly has two types ( Wang et al. 2018).

Figures

FIGURE 2 Urnula ailaoshanensis (Holotype: HKAS 129212). a, b fresh specimens in the field; c, d dry materials from type samples; e cross-section through apothecia; f medullary excipulum and ectal excipulum in Congo red; g external hairs; h asci and paraphyses; i–k asci with ascospores; l paraphyses; m asci apex; n ascospores in Melzer’s reagent; o ascospores in H 2 O. Bars: e = 500 μm; f = 150 μm; g = 30 μm; h–k = 200 μm; l = 30 μm; m–o =20 μm.