Here is a curious discomycete, field IDed to Ionomidotis by Paula DeSanto on the recent Peck Foray in Watkins Glen, New York. This particular find is from a mixed, predominantly hardwood forest within the Meads Creek State Forest. When I got a look at the dried material and field photos, I saw enough resemblance to my own Ionomidotis collection from North Carolina (http://mushroomobserver.org/174774) to consider the possibility, but upon preparing the material for microscopy we noticed that KOH extractable pigments (3% solution) were conspicuously absent. Can it still be Ionomidotis without this reaction? Perhaps this is a member of some other genus in the Encoelioideae?

Ascus tips inamyloid, despite appearing somewhat bluish in the micrographs. No paraphyses observed.

Spores:

9.5-14×=2.5-4.5?m (x=12.25×3.325?m, Q= 2.44-5.2?m, Qm=3.781?m, m=20, s=1)

13.5 x 3 ; 4.5
13 x 4 ; 3.25
13 x 2.5 ; 5.2
12.5 x 3.5 ; 3.57
14 x 4 ; 3.5
13 x 3 ; 4.33
9.5 x 3 ; 3.17
12.5 x 4 ; 3.13
13 x 3.5 ; 3.71
11 x 4.5 ; 2.44
13.5 x 3 ; 4.5
13.5 x 3 ; 4.5
10.5 x 4 ; 2.65
12 x 3 ; 4
12.5 x 2.5 ; 5
12.5 x 3 ; 4.17
9.5 x 3 ; 3.17
14 x 4 ; 3.5
11.5 x 3 ; 3.83
10.5 x 3 ; 3.5

Many thanks!

-Danny N.

PS:  The images are all apparently too large for the site :(  Please find them on Mushroom Observer here: http://mushroomobserver.org/218595

Hans-Otto Baral, 12-10-2015 11:04

Re : Ionomidotis? Ameghiniella? Other Encoelioideae?

Hi Danny

I am reminded of a Chlorencoelia, but the two species for which I have images, C. versiformis and C. torta) have distinctly amyloid asci. The spores would fit.

I am sure that the paraphyses would be seen when squashing the hymenium. If you had pictures from fresh material the genus Chlorencoelia would show a striking feature in the paraphyses (vacuolar bodies, see attach).

Zotto

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Danny Newman, 12-10-2015 17:50

Re : Ionomidotis? Ameghiniella? Other Encoelioideae?

Thank you Mr. Baral.  I will revisit the material and perform a squash mount in Melzer's to search for paraphyses and amyloidity in the ascus tips.  Otherwise, I think Chlorencoelia versiformis is a good match.

Also, I believe the fact that the bottle of Melzer's used was labelled "Melzer's Replacement" may have something to do with the lack of observed blueing.  Will use a more reliable reagent for the second set of micrographs.

Hans-Otto Baral, 12-10-2015 18:08

Re : Ionomidotis? Ameghiniella? Other Encoelioideae?

It would be good also to check a water mount, perhaps remnants of the vacuolar bodies can be seen, or perhaps the collection has still-living elements as it was collected this year.

These vacuolar bodies are a useful character at the family level. They are rather typical for the family Cenangiaceae as we now circumscribe it, but absent from the Cordieritidaceae which inbclude many ionomidotic species.

Danny Newman, 13-10-2015 07:32

Re : Ionomidotis? Ameghiniella? Other Encoelioideae?

Have not yet uploaded the new micrographs, but a more careful analysis revealed both paraphyses with pigmented vacuolar contents and amyloid apical apparati in the asci.  looks like a 100% match for C. versiformis.  photos to come.

many thanks!