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

Liu, Jin Rong, Li, Deng, Chen, Si Ang, Zhang, Yan Cheng, Mou, Guang Fu, Liu, Yan, Zhou, Guang Rong, Tan, Zhou Rong & Zhang, Jian Hua, 2025, Species diversity and systematic taxonomy of Sarcosomataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales), with an emphasis on subtropical regions of China, MycoKeys 121, pp. 21-65 : 21-65

Urnula ailaoshanensis J. R. Lu, Y. Zhang & Q. Zhao , Phytotaxa 619 (1): 91. 2023 .

Fig. 12

Material examined.

China • Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin City, Mao’ershan National Nature Reserve , on rotten fallen sticks surrounded by mosses, ca 1990 m alt., 11 Aug 2023, J. R. Liu (MES 2023081104, IBK!) (ITS: PQ 187434 ; nrLSU: PQ 187435 ; rpb 1: PV 247122 ) .

Habitat.

On the fallen, rotten wood surrounded by mosses.

Geographic distribution.

Currently known in Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China.

Notes.

According to Lu et al. (2023), Urnula ailaoshanensis was originally reported in Yunnan Province, China, and it is recognized 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. In this study, these features are mostly consistent with the observation of our specimens. However, compared to the type specimens, our specimens have darker hymenium surface, smaller asci (340–450 × 21–26 μm vs. 465–600 × 21–30 μm), and slightly longer ascospores (29–38.5 × 13.5–17 μm vs. 29–34.5 × 11.5–17 μm). Such variable color of hymenium surface may be associated with the maturity of ascomata and / or environmental factors, which makes U. ailaoshanensis easily confused with other Urnula species, viz., U. versiformis Y. Z. Wang & Cheng L. Huang , U. himalayana K. Das & D. Chakr. But U. ailaoshanensis can be identified through these microscopic features: one type of external hair, ellipsoid to reniform-like ascospores, and molecular evidence ( Wang and Huang 2015; Wang et al. 2018). In addition, we found a few hymenial hairs in the hymenium, cylindrical, non-septate, up to 3.5 μm in diameter, with rounded tips (Fig. 12 g ).

Figures

Figure 12. Ecology and macroscopic characteristics of Urnula ailaoshanensis, Field photos by J. R. Liu; microscopic photos by S. A. Chen, from IBKMES 2023081104 (IBK!). a. Fresh ascomata in a field, growing on rotten wood surrounded by mosses; b. Fresh ascomata with a dark hymenium surface and a reticulate or corrugated external surface; c. Cross Section through apothecia; d. Subhymenium and medullary excipulum; e. Paraphyses; f. External hairs; g. Hymenial hairs; h. Ascospores in water; i. apical apparatus of ascus with developed ascospores; j. An ascus with immature ascospores. Scale bars: 100 μm (c, j); 50 μm (d); 20 μm (f – i); 10 μm (e).