Helvella subtinta

Helvella subtinta M. Zeng, Q. Zhao & K.D. Hyde, in Hyde et al., Fungal Diversity 100: 160 (2020)

Index Fungorum number: IF556789         Facesoffungi number: FoF 06591

Symbiotic in the coniferous forests. Sexual morph: Apothecia semi-hypogeous, scattered to gregarious. Pileus 0.5–2.5 cm high, 1–5 cm broad, cupulate, black, margin cracked slightly, hymenium glabrous, dark brown to black. Receptacle surface black, pubescent. Stipe 2–3 cm long, 0.5–1 cm broad, black, externally sulcate. Medullary excipulum 150–230 µm broad, of textura intricata, hyaline, com- posed of 3–4 µm broad hyphae. Ectalexcipulum 50–120 µm broad, of textura angularis, composed of 18–23 × 11–15 internal cells, hyaline to brownish, 20–28 × 12–14 μm elongated terminal cells, brown, outermost cells catenuliform in long fascicled tufts. Stipitipellis 40–100 µm, of textura angularis, comprised of 12–17 × 9–12 μm, hyaline to brownish, internal cells, terminal cells 19–26 × 9–13 μm, brown, elongated. Asci 208–262 × 13–16 µm, 8-spored, pleuro- rhynchous, subcylindrical to clavate, J-, apical ring. Paraphyses 3–4 µm broad in the middle, filiform, exceeding the asci, apex enlarged, 4–6 µm broad, brown to dark brown, J-. Ascospores [20/1/1, in H2O] (14.6–)15.3–18.1(–19.6) × (10–)10.2–11.8(–12.5) (Q = 1.32–1.81, Q = 1.52 ± 0.14), 1-seriate, ellipsoid, smooth-walled with a large oil droplet. Asexual morph: Undetermined.

Host and habitat: On sand soil in the coniferous forests (Hyde et al. 2020)

Known host and distribution: China

Material examined: CHINA, Yunnan Province, Shangri- La, on sand soil in the coniferous forests, alt. 4131 m, 16 August 2018, M. Zeng, ZM 34 (KUN-HKAS 104666, holotype; MFLU 19-1557, isotype).

GenBank Accession No: ITS: MN449991, LSU: MN449992.

Notes: This species is characterised by its semi-hypogeous, black cupulate apothecia, black hymenium, sulcate stipe, dark brown paraphyses and pleurorhynchous asci. The phylogenetic tree indicates a closed relationship with Helvella tinta Q. Zhao, B. Feng & K.D. Hyde. Helvella tinta has cupulate to irregularly cupulate pileus with white to smoky grey stipe and mottled hymenium with patches of paler pigmentation hymenium (Hyde et al. 2016). Across the LSU sequences, there are 52 notable nucleotides include 6 gaps differences among the 890 analysed nucleotides between H. tinta (HKAS 82560) and H. subtinta (HKAS 104666).