I found and collected this species growing on Pinus sylvestris cones on the 8th of February, in Buskerud county, Norway. The temperature was around -10° C when I collected the specimen, but the apothecia quickly revitalised when put in a moist plastic bag in the fridge.

The largest apothecia measure 400 µm diameter and have an approximately 100 µm long stalk.

The ascospores have many small LBs. OCI about 2 (3)
(5,8) 6,7-7,7 (8,6) x 1,9-2,4µm
Mean= 6,81 x 2,2µm

Asci with croziers IKI+ Most asci react blue, but some turn reddish (even where I would assume that the concentration of iodine would be the same, see photo)
(34,6) 36,5-43,2 x (5,3) 5,8-7,7 µm

The paraphyses are cyllindric-clavate, septate and have a large refractive vacuole (?). The vacuole (?) partially dissolves and turns golden in IKI. It does not stain readily in CRB (even after multiple minutes), but I have seen some dark blue spots (metachromatic bodies?) especially after adding KOH to the other side of the slide. The paraphyses measure up to 3,3 µm at the tips.

The hairs are slightly rough and measure 3,2-4 µm at the apex. Most of the hairs contain a more or less globular body which turn amber in IKI.

The spore measurements were taken from newly discharged spores in a water mount. All measurements were taken from living cells.

Does anyone have an idea as to which species, or even genus this might be?

Thank you in advance and best regards,

Hulda

Hans-Otto Baral, 05-03-2026 11:13

Re : White apothecia on pine cone

Very good description! Surely the contents in paraphyses and hairs are VBs. Sometimes it is necessary to make the preparation slightly alcaline, e.g. with NH4OH or very diluted KOH which aids the CRB to enter the living cells. But too much alcali kills the cells.

Despite the rough hairs this must be a Pezizellaceae, perhaps a Ciliolarina?

Zotto

Hans-Otto Baral, 05-03-2026 17:30

Re : White apothecia on pine cone

Good question. Ciliolarina is difficult. Some persons are working on it, Stip and Ingo. There exist taxa such as C. neglecta in which the VBs stain violet in IKI, but this is definitely not the case here.

Often the spores get a lilac surface in CRB due to some gel on them. Not sure if all species of the genus do that. 

Yoru question about the turquoise stain: you seem to have seen it for a second, so this is just what I mean. With a lower alcali concentration you would see it longer. 

Dark blue spots in VBs of living cells I cannot imagine. Only when the cells are dead such a colour seems possible.

Ingo Wagner, 08-03-2026 22:33

Re : White apothecia on pine cone

Hello Hulda!

Nice description!
"The ascospores have many small LBs. OCI about 2 (3)
(5,8) 6,7-7,7 (8,6) x 1,9-2,4µm
Mean= 6,81 x 2,2µm"

Are the spores really that narrow?
Could you show the brown IKI reaction of the vacuoles in the paraphyses again in a larger area?

Thank you and greetings
Ingo