Macbrideola reticulospora Hooff & Nann.-Bremek.

Hooff & Nannenga-Bremekamp 1996: Kon. Ned. Akad. Wet., Proc. C 99(1-2): 49
Type loc.: The netherlands, North Brabant, Helmond.
MycoBase #437918

Fructification
Sporocarps scattered, globose to ovoid, total height ca. 1-1.5 mm, sporocyst diam. ca. half of total height.

Hypothallus
circular under individual sporocarps, dark reddish brown.

Stalk
ca. half of total height, shining black, thin and tapered upwards, often ± flattened, in TL not fibrous, dark reddish brown to almost opaque.

Peridium
early evanescent, at most leaving a tiny collar round stalk.

Columella
a continuation of stalk, reaching from ca. 2/3 to apex of sporocyst, giving rise to capiliitial main branches along whole length.

Capillitium
of rather slender threads, branched 2-4 times from columella to periphery, dark brown, translucent, by TL, many free ends at periphery.

Spores
dark brown by RL, pale yellowish brown by TL, globose, 5.5-6.64-7 µm Ø (n=25), ornamented with spines and short ridges, often forming an incomplete net, ca. 0.3-0.5 µm high.

Plasmodium
not seen. Immature sporocarps milky white.

Ecology
On dead dead needles of Abies sp., on the ground.

Distribution in Denmark
Only one locality known.
show map

Global distribution
Described from and only reported from the Netherlands, with a handful of specimens.
show map

Discussion
The Danish material was collected as immature, milky white sporocarps and matured in a box. On the same occasion three species of Didymium, nigripes, clavus and squamulosum, were collected from the same substrate.
The type of habitat, Abies-plantations grown for production of branches used for ornamental purpose at cristmas time, are extremely common in Denmark, suggesting a further distribution.
Based on the present description Hans van Hooff has verified the identification. His help is gratefully acknowledged.

Description
Description and discussion based on the only Danish collection: HFG 2433, Denmark, Fyn, Langesø, 2017.10.22.

 

Abbreviations: TL : transmitted light; RL : reflected light; Ø : diameter; TBU : Danish Botanical Topographical District.

Colour-codes refer to: Kornerup, A. & J. H. Wanscher 1974: Farver i farver. 5th reprint. Politikens Forlag, Copenhagen.

When not otherwise indicated spore measurements are given as: min-mean-max or (extreme-)min-mean-max(-extreme). Spore measurements are exclusive of ornamentation.

Line drawings are free hand sketches.

Distribution maps: Maps of Danish distributions are based on material seen by the author. World distributions are based on reports extracted from literature.