Pithya cupressina

Foliicolous species associated with decomposing fallen foliage of Cupressus sp. and Juniperus sp., with orange, discoid apothecia 0.5 to 2.5 mm in diameter, with a narrowed base but without a clearly differentiated stipe.

Medullary excipulum composed of densely interwoven filamentous hyphae (textura intricata), septate, thick-walled, 3 to 6 µm wide, hyaline or containing only very faint yellowish intracellular pigment inside.

Ectal excipulum with globose, subglobose to angular hyphae, moderately thick-walled, 10 to 30 µm long.

Asci cylindrical, 8-spored, operculate, 150 to 210 µm long, 11 to 13 µm wide, inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Paraphyses filiform, septate, with only a very slight apical enlargement, 2 to 4.5 µm wide, containing abundant orange pigment granules inside, and scarcely protruding above the level of the asci.

Ascospores spherical, smooth, hyaline, very thick-walled, 9 to 11.5 µm in diameter, generally containing one or several oil drops inside.

Herbarium material available: JTP2703/25.