Geoglossum umbratile
Geoglossum umbratile Sacc.
Geoglossum nigritum Cooke
Geoglossaceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(ii,iii,iv)+2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-bodies (apothecia) needle-like or tongue-like, 4–10 cm high, on slender, cylindrical, fine squamulose or almost smooth, dull brown-black or black stalk, 2–6 × 0.2–0.7 cm and lanceolate compressed fertile part above, taking ¼–⅓ of all length of apothecia, 0.4–0.8 cm wide, bright clay, dull gray black to almost black, clear separated from the stalk. Spores narrow-cylindrical, 60–85 × 4.5–7 µm, more or less twisted, smooth with 7–8 septa, brown. VIII–IX.
Habitats and populations. On soil among grasses and mosses in grasslands and along the roads; in peat swamps and in forests on dry or damp poor sandy soils.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern – Elenite resort).
General distribution. Europe, North America.
Threats. Habitat changes as result of agricultural activities, livestock breeding, tourism development.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. The locality is situated in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Research into the species biology and ecology; inclusion in the National biodiversity monitoring system; preservation of the locality of the species.
References. Kuthan & Kotlaba 1989; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Evtimiya Dimitrova
