Aleuria bicuculata
Aleuria bicuculata (Boud.) Gillet
Pyronemataceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-bodies (apothecia) up to 1 cm in diameter, sessile, cup-shaped with yellow-orange hymenium and roll up margin; outside granulose or farinaceous, one-color with hymenium or pale yellow. Spores ellipsoid, 14–16 × 7–9 µm, unicellular, hyaline with two oil drops, covered by acuminate warts and with a hyaline apiculus on each end. VI–XI.
Habitats and populations. On sandy soil with moss (Polytrichum).
Distribution in Bulgaria. Northeast Bulgaria (near the town of Shumen), Rila Mts (above the village of Sestrimo).
General distribution. Europe.
Threats. Habitat changes as a result of drought, agricultural activities, wood plantations, wood extraction, tourism, fires.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. One of the localities is situated in the territory of Rila National Park.
Conservation measures needed. Research into the biology and the ecology of the species; inclusion in the National monitoring system of the biological diversity; preservation of the localities of the species.
References. Hinkova 1958a, b, 1962; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Evtimiya Dimitrova
