Melastiza cornubiensis
Melastiza cornubiensis (Berk. & Broome) J. Moravec
Melastiza chateri (W.G. Smith) Boud.
Pyronemataceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-bodies (apothecia) 0.5–1.5(2.5) cm in diameter, sessile, at first cup-shaped, later expanded with bright orange to bright red hymenium; outer surface paler, with short bundles of brown hairs with blunt apices, 90–160 × 7.5–10 µm in size, with one to four septa and walls 1–2 µm thick. Spores ellipsoid, 17–19 × 9–11µm, unicellular, with 1–2 large oil drops and rough irregular reticulum on surface, often with a spine-like apiculus on each spore end. V–X.
Habitats and populations. On damp sandy, clay or calcareous soils.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt), Rhodopi Mts (Western – Beglika Strict Nature Reserve).
General distribution. Europe, North America.
Threats. Habitat changes as result of wood plantation, wood extraction, livestock breeding; restricted range of the species.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. One of the localities is situated in the territory of Beglika Strict Nature Reserve. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Research into the species biology and ecology; preservation of the localities of the species.
References. Aleksandrov 1970; Stoichev & Dimcheva 1987b; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Evtimiya Dimitrova
