Orbilia beltraniae Quijada, Baral & G. Marson

Quijada, Luis & Baral, Hans-Otto, 2017, Orbiliabeltraniae, a new succulenticolous species from the Canary Islands, MycoKeys 25, pp. 1-12 : 5-7

Orbilia beltraniae Quijada, Baral & G. Marson sp. nov. Fig. 3

Type.

SPAIN. Canary Islands: Tenerife, Tacoronte, La Cardonera, 28°29'47"N, 16°25'29"W, 60 m alt., on detached branch of Euphorbia canariensis lying on the ground, 30 Oct 2013, L. Quijada (holotype: TFC Mic. 24363, isotype TFC Mic. 24359).

Diagnosis.

Similis Orbiliae cotoneastri sed ascosporae longiores, paraphyses ad apicem leniter vel modice lanceolato-lageniformes. Habitat ad ramos Euphorbiae canariensis in zona subtropica (semi-)arida Macaronesiae.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to Esperanza Beltrán-Tejera in recognition of her many contributions to the development of Canarian mycology, of her work in education and of our friendship.

Description.

Apothecia moist 0.4-1.2(1.5) mm diam, 0.1-0.2 mm thick (receptacle 0.06-0.07 mm), pale white (231. p White) to medium orange yellow (71. OY), rarely medium yellow brown (77. m y Br), medium translucent, round to somewhat undulating, gregarious in small groups; disc flat, margin thin, ± smooth, not protruding, sessile on a broad base, superficial. Asci*(32)38-40(46) × (3)3.5-4.5 µm, †(27.5)33-35(43) × (2.5)3-3.5 µm, 8-spored, 4-6 lower spores inverted, pars sporifera *14-20 µm; apex strongly truncate (not indented, not inflated), thin-walled; base with short to medium long stalk, h- or H-shaped. Ascospores*(4.5)5.5-6(7) × (1.2)1.4-1.6(2) µm, †(4)4.5-5 × 1-1.5 µm, cylindrical to slightly fusoid-clavate, with rounded to obtuse ends, straight or slightly curved, only slightly (rarely medium) tapered below; SBs*(1)1.5-2 × 0.5-1 µm, globose, often ± eccentrical, sometimes with distinct filum. Paraphyses uninflated to often slightly to medium lanceolate-lageniform with rounded tip, terminal cell *(13.5)17.5-19.5(25) × 2-3 µm, 3-5 µm protruding beyond living asci, lower cells *(4.5)7-9.5(10.5) × 1.5-2.5 µm, unbranched at upper septum, rarely with a bifurcate apex. Medullary excipulum 20-45 µm thick, of dense textura intricata with inflated cells, sharply delimited. Ectal excipulum of thin-walled t. globulosa-angularis, at base 40-105 µm thick, cells *(7.5)11-13(18) × (4.5)8-9.5(13) µm, at margin 10-28 µm thick, oriented at a 40-80° angle to the surface, marginal cortical cells *(5.5)7.5-8.5(12.5) × (2.5)3.5-4.5(7) µm, not forming distinct cell rows; glassy processes absent. Anchoring hyphae rather sparse, *1.5-3.5 µm diam, wall 0.2 µm thick. SCBs only present in paraphyses, globose, numerous in each terminal cell, VBs absent. Exudate forming a thin and firmly attached layer over paraphyses, up 1 µm thick on marginal cortical cells. Asexual state unknown.

Distribution and ecology.

Orbilia beltraniae is so far only known from Tenerife island (Canarian archipelago, Macaronesia).

The species has been found between 40-340 m alt., from the coast to lowland elevations, on the northern and southern slopes where Euphorbia scrubs develop. All specimens have to date been collected on Euphorbia canariensis , so it seems that the species is host specific, growing during the rainy period between autumn and spring on succulent wood of detached, dead branches lying on the ground. Its desiccation tolerance was not thoroughly explored, but it can be said that its mature asci can survive at least one or two weeks in the herbarium. Although no apothecia of O. beltraniae were found in summer, several specimens were found to be fully alive during dry periods without rain in winter and spring, which permits us to conclude that the apothecia tolerate desiccation and probably survive over the summer to continue growth in autumn.

Other specimens examined.

Orbilia beltraniae (all on detached branches of Euphorbia canariensis lying on the ground). SPAIN. Canary Island: Tenerife, Buena Vista del Norte, Lomo las Toldas, 28°21'33"N, 16°53'58"W, 170 m alt., 27 Dec 2012, L. Quijada (TFC Mic. 23836); La Laguna, Andén de la Cruz, 28°34'03"N, 16°18'06"W, 340 m alt., 20 May 2013, L. Quijada (TFC Mic. 24231); 29 Dec 2013, L. Quijada (TFC Mic. 24449); La Matanza de Acentejo, Punta del Sol, 28°27'12"N, 16°28'21"W, 40 m alt., 2 Mar 2013, L. Quijada (TFC Mic. 23890); S/Cruz de Tenerife, Hoya el Laurel, 28°31'53"N, 16°11'53"W, 300 m alt., 5 Mar 2013, L. Quijada (TFC Mic. 23902); San Miguel de Abona, Llanos de Amarilla, 28°00'59"N, 16°38'02"W, 40 m alt., 16 Dec 2012, L. Quijada (TFC Mic. 23771).

Orbilia cardui . EUROPE. Germany: Sachsen, 6 km NNE of Chemnitz, 1 km E of Glösa, Indianerteich, 50°53'10"N; 12°57'23"E, 330 m alt., on stem of Angelica sylvestris , 15 May 2014, B. Mühler (H.B. 9891); Luxembourg: Esch-sur-Alzette, 2 km NNE of Dudelange, 1.5 km S of Bettembourg, Triage, 49°30'15"N; 06°05'50"E, 280 m alt., on herbaceous stems of undetermined dicotyledoneous, 25 Jul 2014, G. Marson (H.B. 9901).

Orbilia cotoneastri . EUROPE. France: Bretagne, Morbihan, 12 km S of Auray, 1.6 km SW of Locmariaquer, Breneguy, 47°33'35"N; 02°57'42"W, 5 m alt., on wood of branch of Ulex europaeus , 3 Nov 2002, J.P. Priou (H.B. 7241a); 5.3 km S of La Gacilly, 2 km N of St.- Vincent-sur-Oust, La Provostaie, 47°43'04"N; 02°08'50"W, 5 m alt., on stems of Fallopia sachalinensis , 3 Jun 2008, J.P. Priou (J.P.P. 28122); Galicia: La Coruña, 18 km SE of Coruña, SE of Betanzos, N of Calle de Concepción Arenal, 43°16'34"N; 08°12'21"W, 40 m alt., on bark of branch of Quercus robur , 31 Dec 2011, B.A. Rodríguez (H.B. 9645b).

Orbilia rectispora . EUROPE. Germany: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 0.5 km SE of Rehna, Radegasttal, 53°46'30"N; 11°03'30"E, 20 m alt., on culms of Sparganium erectum , 11 Jul 2015, T. Richter (H.B. 9962); Great Britain: Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, 3.5 km S of Barnsley, 1.5 km SW of Worsbrough, Worsbrough Country Park, 53°31'15"N; 01°28'55"W, 70 m alt., on leaves of Typha latifolia , 20 May 2011, H.O. Baral (H.B. 9549).