Pithya cupressina
Pithya cupressina (Pers. : Fr.) Fuckel
Sarcoscyphaceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-bodies (apothecia) single, discoid, sessile or narrowed bellow into a short stout stalk, 0.8–1 mm long and 0.3–0.8 mm wide, outside pale yellow to whitish, fleshy, covered by short white hairs; disc 1–1.8 mm in diameter, concave with orange-yellow hymenium. Spores globose, 10–12.5 µm in diameter, smooth, hyaline. X–V.
Habitats and populations. On living twigs and needles of thuya (Thuja orientalis). in city conditions.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Danubian Plain (Pavlikeni).
General distribution. Europe, North America.
Threats. Habitat changes as result of very limited distribution, a small number of the population, habitat changes as result of atmospheric and land pollutions as result of agricultural and industrial activities.
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 biology and ecology of the species; inclusion in the National monitoring system of the biological diversity; preservation of the locality of the species.
References. Hinkova 1965; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Evtimiya Dimitrova
