Multiclavula-mucida_23

Description :

Multiclavula mucida (Pers.) R.H. Petersen, syn.: Lentaria mucida (Pers.) Corner, Clavaria mucida Pers.Scum lover, DE: Schmiriges HoltzkeulchenSlo.: ?Dat.: Nov. 11. 2015Lat.: 46.35984 Long.: 13.70473Code: Bot_926/2015_DSC9744Habitat: Alpine valley, semiruderal grassland in front of a farm house; shallow, calcareous ground; flat terrain; partly sunny; cold place in shade of mountain during winter months; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevation 560 m (1.850 feet), alpine phytogeographical region.Substratum: stump of a cut down, old Juglans regia in its final disintegration stage.Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soa and Trenta, near farm house Skokar, Trenta 2, right bank of river Soa, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC Comments: This is my second observation of this interesting basidiomycete growing in symbiosis with algae (Coccomyxa) similar to lichens, where I measured spores. It is also the second time where they are definitely wider than they should be for M. mucida (see graph 'Measured spore dimensions and data from literature' in this observation and compare album Multiclavula mucida - I). Measured spores originated from tiny but clear spore pint produced by the sporocarps. All sources I found consistently state that spore width should not exceed 3.0 (3.2) m. According to the key in Ref.:(4), only three other Multiclavula species (among 13 treated) fit to the spore dimensions of this observation: M. fossicola, which is terrestrial and has larger basidia (see MycoBank), M. coronilla, which is also terrestrial and M. clara, which is not white but pale orange. In addition MycoBank disagrees with Ref.4. in stating M. fossicola maximal spore width no more than 2.7(3.0) microns. Therefore the measured spore width remains a secret to me and casts some doubt in the determination. Sporocarps also seem quite frequently branched, more than stated in most sources for typical Multiclavula mucida. Substrate is also interesting. Most my other observations of this species in the Upper Soa River region involve Picea abies as substrate.Spores smooth; dimensions: 6.4 [7.4 ; 7.7] 8.7 x 2.8 [3.2 ; 3.3] 3.7 microns; Q = 2 [2.3 ; 2.4] 2.6; N = 44; C = 95%; Me = 7.6 x 3.2 microns; Qe = 2.3. Basidia multiguttulate, sterigmata 4, oblong with narrow, stalk like, base; dimensions: 15.9 [19 ; 21.2] 24.3 x 4.3 [5 ; 5.5] 6.3 microns; Q = 2.6 [3.5 ; 4.2] 5.1; N = 15; C = 95%; Me = 20.1 x 5.3 microns; Qe = 3.9 (25-30 x 7-8 m according to Ref.: 3). Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil, in water, cotton blue. AmScope MA500 digital camera.Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJFRef.:(1) J. Breitenbach, F. Kraenzlin, Eds., Fungi of Switzerland, Vol.2. Verlag Mykologia (1986), p 342.(2) G.J. Krieglsteiner (Hrsg.), Die Grosspilze Baden-Wrttembergs, Band 2, Ulmer (2000), p 43. (3) R.H. Petersen, Multiclavula mucida, Bull. New Zealand Dept. Sci. Industr.Res. 236 (1988), p 85, access available at www.mycobank.com . (4) The key based on R.H. Petersen, Notes on Clavarioid Fungi. VII. Redefinition of the Clavaria vernalis - C. mucida, American Midland Naturalist (1967), 77.1, pp 205-221, modified by A. Rockefeller, J. Hollinger, D. Newman, available at Mushroom Observer.(5) V. Wirth, Die Flechten Baden-Wrttembergs, Teil.1. 2., Ulmer (1995), p 594.(6) D. Arora, Mushrooms Demystified, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley (1986), p 636 (7) W. Rothmaler, Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, Vol.1, Niedere Pflanzen, Elsevier, 3. Auflage (1994), p 542. (8) M.P. Nelsen, Noteworthy collection, Michigan, Multiclavula vernalis, Multiclavula mucida, The Michigan Botanist, Vol.46. (2009), p 124. (9) C.W. Smith, et all, The lichens of Great Britain and Ireland, The British Lichen Society (2009), p 613.