Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo, Ser. B, 30(4), pp. 155–163, December 22, 2004

Enumeration of Remarkable Japanese Discomycetes (1): Three
Helotialean Members New to Japan
Tsuyoshi Hosoya
Department of Botany, National Science Museum, Tokyo, Amakubo 4–1–1, Tsukuba, 305–0005, Japan
E-mail: hosoya@kahaku.go.jp

Abstract Three helotialean discomycetes new to Japan are described., i. e. Parachnopeziza miniopsis (Hyaloscyphaceae), Claussenomyces atrovirens (Helotiaceae), and Tapesia rosae (Dermateaceae).
Key words: discomycetes, Japan, mycobiota.

Introduction
In comparison to basidiomycetes with large
fruiting bodies, usually recognizable in naked
eyes, less attention has been paid to discomyceteswith small fruiting bodies. However, due to its
climatic diversity, Japan embraces rich mycobiota of discomycetes, and still is “relatively unexplored paradise” (Korf, 1958). In spite of inventorial work of Otani (1989), further enumerative
studies are required for comprehensive understanding of the biodiversity and achievement ofinventory of Japanese discomycetes. In a seriesof papers, the author will describe remarkablediscomycetes from Japan including new records
and new to science. The first paper describes
three discomycetes new to Japan.
Materials and Methods
Collection. Collection procedure followed
Hosoya and Otani (1997).
Observation. Dried materials were rinsed in adrop of 70% ethanol, rehydrated in water, embedded in mucilage (Tissue Tek II; Miles laboratories, Inc., Naperville, Illinois, USA), and sliced
at 15–25 m m with a microtome (SM2000R,Leica) equipped with an electric freezer (EF-10,Leica). The sliced materials were mounted inMelzer’s reagent (MLZ; 0.5 g of iodine, 1.5 g ofKI, 20 g of chloral hydrate, 20 ml of distilledwater), cotton blue dissolved in lactic acid (CBLA) or in plain lactic acid (LA) for observation.
When KOH pretreatment was required, specimens were treated with 3% KOH before exposure to MLZ. Color codes followed CMYK system referring to a publication (Anonymous,2002).
Descriptions
1. Claussenomyces atrovirens

Figs. 1–2

Peziza atrovirens Pers., Syn. Meth. Fung. p. 635. 1801.
Calloria atrovirens (Pers.) Fr., Summa Veg. Scand.,p. 359. 1849.
Ombrophila atrovirens (Pers.) P. Karst., Mycol.
Fenn. 1: 92. 1871.
Chlorosplenium atrovirens (Pers.) de Not. apud
Karst., Mycol. Fenn. 1: 93. 1871.
Tympanis atrovirens (Pers.) Rehm, Hedwigia 21: 70.
1882.
Coryne atrovirens (Pers.) Sacc., Syll. Fung. 8: 641.
1889.—Dennis, Mycol. Pap. 62: 169. 1956.
Claussenomyces atrovirens (Pers.) Korf & Abawi,
Can. J. Bot. 49: 1882. 1971.
Coryne virescens Tull., Sel. Fung. Carp. 3: 193. 1865.

Apothecia scattered, superficial; pulvinate toshallow discoid with ill-defined margin, olivaceous green (C10M0Y30K30) when fresh; becoming discoid to shallow discoid with well-defined margin, mostly 500 m m in diameter, black(C0M0Y0K100) when dry; pale yellow pigment

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Tsuyoshi HosoyaFig. 1.

Claussenomyces atrovirens (TNS-F-11166). C, G: mounted in MLZ; D–F, H: mounted in CB-LA )A, Fresh apothecia. B, Dried apothecia. C, Vertical section of an apothecium. D, Close-up of ectal excipulum. E, Ascus with ascospores. Note thick-walled apex. F, Ascus filled with ascoconidia. G, Paraphyses embedded in gelatinous matrix. H, Ascospores. One at the middle producing ascoconidia. I, Ascoconidia. Lower
figure showing yeast-like growth initiated from the discharged ascoconidia in a patch.
Scales. A, B, 1 mm; C, 50 m m; D–I, 10 m m

dissolved into the medium when rehydrated in
3% KOH. Ectal excipulum two-layered, internallayer textura intricata, of loosely interwoven, infrequently branched hyphae embedded in gelatinous matrix; external layer textura intricata of interwoven hyphae, 2–4 m m wide, less frequentlybranched and embedded in dark-colored, thicker
gelatinous matrix. Medullary excipulum textura
intricata, inconspicuous. Asci 93–100(–120)
(7.5–)9–11.5 m m (98.68.89.80.8 m m on averageSD, n21), cylindrical clavate withsomewhat pedicellate base, 8-spored, often filled
by secondary conidia (ascoconidia), eight-spored,arising from simple septa; apex rounded, thickwalled, pore MLZ- with or without KOH
pretreatment. Ascospores (14–)17–203–4 m m(171.83.60.4 on averageSD, n20) m m,fusiform-clavate with narrowed base and rounded
apex, transversely 4–7-septate, rarely verticallyseptate in the middle cells, often obscured by as-coconidia budding from the ascospore body still
within the asci, constricted at the septa and disarticulating at the septa along with maturation. Ascoconidia 1.51 m m, ellipsoid, filling up theascus except for basal portion, discharged in
mass, forming circular patches on the agar; germinating and initially proliferating in yeast-likemanner. Paraphyses filiform, straight to flexuous, simple, branched or anastomosing, embedded in gelatinous matrix, 1–1.5 m m in width.
Specimens examined. TNS-F-11165, TNS-F11166, Ura-Tsukuba, Mt. Tsukuba, Makabe-gun,Ibaraki Pref., on Pinus log, 8–VI–2002. col. T.
Hosoya.
Known distribution. Europe (UK, Dennis,1956); South America (Argentina, Romero,1987).

Japanese Discomycetes (1)Fig. 2.

157

Claussenomyces atrovirens (TNS-F-11166).
A, Asci. One showing the contained ascospores, one showing the ascoconidia filing up the ascus. Note
thick-walled apex. B, Vertical section of apothecium showing ectal excipulum and hymenium. Note hyphae inthe ectal excipulum embedded in gelatinous matrix. C, Paraphyses. One at the right showing the anastomosis
at the basal part. D, Ascospores. Some showing ascoconidial production. One at the right showing disarticulation. E, Diagrammatic drawing of the apothecial section showing the outline of the structure.

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Tsuyoshi Hosoya

Fig. 3.

Parachnopeziza miniopsis (TNS-F-11167). C–G: mounted in CB-LA.
A, B, Fresh apothecia. C, Vertical section of the apothecium showing the outline of the structure. D, Vertical section of the apothecium showing the margin. E, Ascus with ascospores. F, Subicular hyphae. Noteglassy texture. G, Hairs with various degree of curvature.
Scales. A, B, 1 mm; C–G, 10 m m.

Notes. The genus Claussenomyces Kirschst.
includes 14 species (Kirk et al., 2001). Although
the genus is known to be widespread, occurrenceof some members is reported from limited regions. The genus is divided into two majorgroups by the presence or absence of ionomidotic reaction (extracting dark pigment in KOH
mount), and C. atrovirens belongs to the negativeionomidotic reaction group (Ouellette and Korf,1979). However, pale yellow pigments were observed when mounted in KOH in the presentspecimens. Transversely septate ascospores are
one of the characteristics of C. atrovirens, but occurrence of vertical septation is also reported,though infrequent (Ouellette and Korf, 1979).
Fisher (1985) reported cultural characteristics ofC. atrovirens, initial stage of which concurredwith the result of the present study. Yeast-likegrowth at the initial stage of growth was also observed in the present study, but no further information was obtained due to the isolate depletion.

2. Prachnopeziza miniopsis

Figs. 3–4

Peziza miniopsis Ellis, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 8: 66.
1881.
Erinella miniopsis (Ellis) Sacc., Syll. Fung. 8: 510.
1889.
Dasyscyphella miniopsis (Ellis) Kirschst., Ann. mycol.
36: 384. 1938.—Korf, Lloydia 14: 152. 1951.
Erioscypha miniopsis (Ellis) Kirschst., Ann. mycol.
36: 384. 1938.
Erinellina miniopsis (Ellis) Seaver, North Amer. CupFungi (Inoperc.) p. 291. 1951.
Lasiobelonium miniopsis (Ellis) Dennis, Persoonia 2:
185. 1962.
Parachnopeziza miniopsis (Ellis) Korf, Mycotaxon 7:
469. 1983.

Apothecia scattered, seated on subiculum andwith short stipe waged into the substrate, patellate to short turbinate, 50–100 m m in diameter
when dry; disc flat to shallow, orange(C0M60Y100K0) with transparent texture, surrounded by white hairy margin when fresh, hidden by incurving margin when dry; receptacle

Japanese Discomycetes (1)Fig. 4.

159

Parachnopeziza miniopsis (TNS-F-11167).
A, Vertical section of apothecium showing ectal excipulum and part of hairs and hymenium. B, Paraphyses. C, Ascospores. D, Hairs. E, Asci. F, Subicular hyphae. Note branching at right angles. G, Diagrammatic
drawing of the apothecial section showing the outline of the structure.

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Tsuyoshi Hosoya

covered by white, entangled hairs; stipe short,narrowed to the point at the base, waged into thesubstrate. Subiculum of finely granulate tosmooth hyphae of 2.5–4 m m thick, wall
1–1.5 m m, few septate, mostly straight, occasionally waving or forming fascicules with several
hyphae, branched at right angle. Ectal excipulum textura prismatica, composed of cells
6–102.5–3 m m, becoming larger and angular
toward the base, giving rise to hairs at the outermost layer. Medullary excipulum textura intricata, composed of densely entangled hyphae of
1.5–2 m m. Hairs straight at the basal portion,waving to strongly curved, crisped, or spirally
coiled toward the blunt apex, few-septate, even inwidth, having wall of variable thickness, hyaline,
2–3 m m; narrow rumen of 1 m m conserved. Asci
125–14011–13 m m, cylindrical clavate, eightspored, arising from crosiers; apex conical withflattened top, MLZwithout KOH pretreatment.
Ascospores (50–)80–903 m m, filiform, straightto curved, 5-septate, with blunt apex, gradually
narrowed toward the base. Paraphyses filiform,
straight to waving, simple to branched, as long as

Fig. 5.

asci, 1–1.5(–2) m m.
Specimens examined. HONSHU: TNS-F11167, Sugadaira Montane Research Center,
University of Tsukuba, Sanada Machi, Nagano
Pref., on Prunus trunk, 20–V–2002. col. I. Tanaka.
Known distribution. North America (Korf,1978).
Notes. Although 8 species are known in
Parachnopeziza Korf (Kirk et al, 2001), so far noother members of the genus has been known
from Japan. Parachnopeziza miniopsis is known
on Acer and Vitis, and Prunus is a new host.
3. Tapesia rosae

Figs. 5–6

Peziza rosae Pers., Obs. Myc. 2: 82. 1799.
Tapesia rosae (Pers.) Fuckel, Symb. myc., 1: 301.
1869.—Aebi, 1972. Nova Hedw. 23: 82.
Mollisia rosae (Pers.) P. Karst., Myc. Fenn. 1: 208.
1871.
Lachnea rosae (Pers.) Gill., Discom. de Fr., p. 92.

Tapesia rosae (TNS-F-11168). B–G: mounted in CB-LA.
A, Fresh apothecia. B, Vertical section of the apothecium. C, Vertical section of the apothecium showing
the ectal excipulum and medullary excipulum. D, Close-up of the apothecial base showing the subicular hyphae extending from the ectal excipulum. E, Subicular hyphae. F, Paraphyses. Note cylindrical shape withsepta. G, Ascospores.
Scales. A, 1 m m; B 50 m m; C–G, 10 m m.

Japanese Discomycetes (1)Fig. 6.

161

Tapesia rosae (TNS-F-11168).
A, Close up of hair-like protrusions, extending from the outermost cells of the ectal excipular cells. B,Subicular hyphae. Note fascicules and curving structure. C, Asci. D, Paraphyses. E, Ascospores. F, Verticalsection of apothecium showing ectal excipulum and hair-like protrusions. G, Ectal excipular cells in squash
mount. H, Diagrammatic drawing of the apothecial section showing the outline of the structure.

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Tsuyoshi Hosoya
1879.
Lachnella rosae (Pers.) Quel., Enchir. Fung. p. 312.
1886.
Tympanis obtexta Wallr. var. pezizaeformis Wallr.,
Crypt. germ. 2: 429. 1833.
Tapesia corni Fuckel., Jahrb. Nass. Verein Naturk.
23–24: 302. 1870.

Apothecia gregarious, globose when young,becoming urn-shaped by opening at the top,mostly 1–1.5 mm in diameter when dry, sessile,seated on subiculum; disc shallow, paleyellow (C0M0Y40K0), often obscured by theincurving margin when dry. Subiculum gray
(C0M0Y0K70), covering the surface of the substrate, composed of brown (C30M60Y100K0)
hyphae, 4–5 m m wide with 1–1.5 m m thick wall,
septate every 10–15 mm, straight to strongly
curved, with few branching, extending alone orforming a fascicles of 2–5 hyphae. Ectal excipulum textura globulosa to textura angularis, composed of dark-walled cells, 6–125–8 m m,arranged somewhat in oblique manner to the outside at the middle receptacle, ending up to hairlike, paler-colored protrusions of 35–804–5 m mnear the margin, connected to subicular hyphae at
the middle receptacle and at the base of apothecia. Medullary excipulum textura oblita, ofdensely crowded small hyaline cells, 5–102–3m m. Asci 47–515–6 m m, cylindrical clavate,eight-spored, arising from inconspicuous
croziers, apex conical, pore MLZwith or without KOH pretreatment. Ascospores 7–10
2–2.5 m m, (8.51.12.00.1 on averageSD,n27) ellipsoid, aseptate, hyaline, biseriate in theasci. Paraphyses cylindrical to slightly lanceolate with blunt end, simple or branched at thebase, aseptate to septate, 3–5 mm wide.
Specimens examined. HONSHU: TNS-F11168, Sugadaira Montane Research Center,University of Tsukuba, Sanada Machi, NaganoPref., on Rosa branch, 20–V–2002. col. T.
Hosoya.
Known distribution. Europe (Aebi, 1972).

Notes. So far no members of the genus Tapesia (Pers.) Fuckel has been reported in Japan, andthe present paper includes the first report of its
occurrence. The present fungus had been treatedin various genera, partly because the genera wereill-defined. Tapesia is distinguished from Mollisia (Fr.) P. Karst. based on the presence ofsubiculum, but claimed to be continuous withMollisia, because some Mollisia species havemore or less subiculum-like hyphae. Because thelimitation of Mollisia and its allied genera seems
to be artificial and controversial (Korf, 1973;Baral, 1994), merging Tapesia under Mollisia has
been proposed (Baral, 1994). However, distinguishing Tapesia from Mollisia is practical for
identification purpose when the subiculum is remarkable. Because of this practical importance, I
accept Tapesia, and dispose the present fungus in
Tapesia. Close analysis incorporating molecular
data will be required to understand any fundamental difference between Tapesia and Mollisia.
Tapesia rosae is characterized by textura oblita
medullary excipulum, haired ectal excipulum.
Acknowledgements
The author expresses his gratitude to Dr. R. P.
Korf, Prof. Emeritus, Cornell University, for hiskindly reviewing the manuscript. The author
shows great appreciation to Mr. H. O. Baral forthe identification of Tapesia rosae.
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