Smardaea planchonis

Species typical of soil associated with Cupressus, with disc-shaped apothecia with an undulate margin, sessile to subsessile, anchored to the soil by central rhizoids, 0.7 to 1.6 cm across, dark purple to blackish.

Medullary excipulum of textura intricata, formed by cylindrical hyphae densely interwoven, 3.5 to 6.5 µm in diameter, with violaceous pigment inside.

Ectal excipulum of textura globulosa-angularis, formed by irregular globose hyphae 10 to 23 µm in diameter, containing violaceous intracellular pigment like the medullary excipulum.

Asci cylindrical, eight-spored, operculate, 180 to 220 µm long, 12 to 14 µm wide, with uniseriate spore arrangement inside the ascus, basal croziers, and inamyloid in Melzer's reagent (negative reaction).

Ascospores spherical, hyaline or faint pale purple at maturity, smooth- and thick-walled, 9.5 to 12 µm in diameter, with abundant fine oil droplets inside.

Herbarium material available: JTP2693/25.