Arachnopeziza aurelia
Arachnopeziza aurelia (Pers. : Fr.) Fuckel
Hyaloscyphaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-bodies (apothecia) superficial, crowded, sessile on subiculum of whitish hyphae, cup-shaped, golden yellow; disc up to 1 mm in diameter, concave, covered by fine, thin, cylindrical hairs, 112.5–157.5 × 2.5–4 µm in size, acuminated into a thin tip, septate, pale brown. Spores fusiform, 12.5–13(15) × 2.5–3 µm, at first unicellular, at mature with three septa, often with an apiculus on one or on the both ends, hyaline. All year, especially IV–X.
Habitats and populations. In deciduous and mixed forests on rotten wood, fruits and leaves (especially of oaks – Quercus and beech – Fagus).
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Lyulin Mt), Valley of Struma River (near the village of Mikrevo, Blagoevgrad district).
General distribution. Europe.
Threats. Habitat changes as result of agricultural actions, wood plantations, wood, limited distribution of species.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria.
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. Dimitrova 2000, 2002b; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Evtimiya Dimitrova
