Byssonectria fusispora (Berk.) Rogerson & Korf

Phylum: Ascomycota - Class: Pezizomycetes - Order: Pezizales - Family: Pyronemataceae

Distribution - Taxonomic History - Etymology - Identification - Culinary Notes - Reference Sources

The genus Byssonectria comprises a group of simple disc-like ascomycetes with small fruitbodies and clavate asci. In many of the species each ascus contains eight ascospores, but there are some related species whose asci produce more than 2000 spores. Mostly these little fungi grow on various kinds of dung or rotting vegetation, often on disturbed soil beside woodland paths. Byssonectria fusispora is fairly typical of the genus, producing small orange disc-like fruitbodies

Distribution

An uncommon find in Britain and Ireland, Byssonectria fusispora occurs also throughout most of western Europe, from Scandinavia (where it is a relatively common sight) as far south as France and Italy. There are also references to this species occurring in North America.

Taxonomic history

In 1846 this tiny ascomycete fungus was described by British mycologist Miles Berkeley, who gave it the scientific name Peziza fusispora. The currently accepted scientific name Byssonectria fusispora dates from a 1971 publication by American mycologists Clark Thomas Rogerson (1918 - 2001) and Richard Paul Korf (1925 - 2016).

Synonyms of Byssonectria fusispora include Peziza fusispora Berk., Humaria fusispora (Berk.) Sacc., Leucoloma fusisporum (Berk.) H. Rehm, Octospora fusispora (Berk.) Brumm., and Inermissia fusispora (Berk.) Rifai.

Etymology

The specific epithet fusispora refers to the fusoid (spindle shaped) spores of this ascomycete fungus.

Identification guide

	Ascocarp (fruitbody) These bright yellow to orange fungi start off as tiny spheres and develop into sessile (stemless) bowl-shaped fruitbodies, typically 1 to 3mm across (exceptionally to 5mm). They have smooth hymenial (spore-producing) upper surfaces, while the infertile (outer edge of the cup-shaped fruitbodies) surface is slightly paler and scurfy. The cups are initially round but flatten as they mature.
	Asci 220-250 x 12-13µm, with eight spores per ascus; inamyloid. Paraphyses Narrow, somewhat longer than the asci; septate; filled with orange pigment. (Paraphyses are structures of sterile tissue between the asci on the hymenial surface.) Show larger image Asci and spores of Byssonectria fusispora  X
	Spores Fusoidal (spindle shaped) with rounded ends, smooth, 17-24 x 8-10µm; hyaline; each containing two large oil drops and usually also several smaller ones. Show larger image Spores of Byssonectria fusispora  X  Spore print White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat & Ecological role	Saprobic, in groups on well-rotted straw, animal droppings and occasionally on soil having high nitrogen levels from animal urine; also colonising burn sites
Season	Late winter and spring.
Similar species	Several other ascomycetous disc fungi also colonise animal dung and decaying vegetation. Few can be identified from macroscopic features alone, and so microscopic examination of asci, spores and other cell structures is usually necessary.

Culinary Notes

Toxicity uncertain, but these cup fungi are far too small to be of any culinary interest.

Reference Sources

Dennis, R.W.G. (1981). British Ascomycetes; Lubrecht & Cramer; ISBN: 3768205525.

Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (1984). Fungi of Switzerland. Volume 1: Ascomycetes. Verlag Mykologia: Luzern, Switzerland.

Medardi, G. (2006). Ascomiceti d'Italia. Centro Studi Micologici: Trento.

Dictionary of the Fungi; Paul M. Kirk, Paul F. Cannon, David W. Minter and J. A. Stalpers; CABI, 2008

Taxonomic history and synonym information on these pages is drawn from many sources but in particular from the British Mycological Society's GB Checklist of Fungi.

Acknowledgements

This page includes pictures kindly contributed by David Kelly.

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