I found and collected this propoloid ascomycete scarcely growing on the bark of a living tree (Pinus sylvestris) on the 12th of December, this year. It was found in the same area as my previous post (Fagerfjell, municipality of Flesberg, Buskerud county), but on a different locality. This locality is an open, old, pine dominated forest about 610 m.a.s.l.

The ascospores are cylindrical to ellipsoid and are filled with small guttules.

19,2-27,2 x 11,2-14,4 µm

Me= 21,9 x 12,31 µm

The spore wall is about 0,96-1,5 µm (living) and 1,7-2,8 µm (dead)

The asci are about 126-147 x 18 µm (dead)

The spores were measured in the living state, but I was unable to obtain a spore print. The large variation in the spore measurements may be due to some of the spores being partially immature. All measurements were taken from fresh material in water.

Although the spores are a bit small I believe that this resembles Propolis leonis quite well. However, that species has primarily been recorded in areas close to the coast. Could this be the right species, and is anyone aware of P. leonis or a similar species being recorded from submontane regions inland?

Thank you in advance and best regards,

Hulda

Michel Hairaud, 29-12-2025 14:25

Re : Propolis sp. on Pinus sylvestris

Hi Hulda, 

You are right, the species was at first mainly found near the Atlantic coast but a former post on Ascofrance already showed a much larger distribution (includinc Gernot's find) 
See : http://www.ascofrance.fr/search_forum/70642

Amitiés Michel

Lothar Krieglsteiner, 30-12-2025 17:24

Re : Propolis sp. on Pinus sylvestris

I collected Propolis leonis twice - in Liguria (Italy) and in the French Sea Alps, both times quite far from the sea coast.
Yours, Lothar