Spathularia rufa

Species typical of conifers, synonymized by many with Spathularia flavida but maintained as distinct in taxonomic databases, with spatula-shaped ascomata, small in size, 2 to 5 cm high, pale brown with a notably darker, reddish-brown stipe, and gelatinous in texture.

Excipulum formed by cylindrical, hyaline hyphae 6 to 18 µm wide, interwoven with more slender connective hyphae 2 to 5 µm wide.

Asci clavate to fusiform, eight-spored, unitunicate, 90 to 120 µm long, 10 to 15 µm wide, with parallel to fasciculate spore arrangement inside the ascus, and inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Paraphyses filiform, septate, hyaline, 1.5 to 2.5 µm wide, without apical enlargements, branched, with curved, twisted or even coiled apices, exceeding the height of the asci.

Ascospores filiform, with one pointed end and the opposite end rounded, hyaline, thin-walled, 45 to 60 µm long, 2 to 3.5 µm wide, developing transverse septa with maturity, containing small refringent oil droplets of varying size inside, and generally surrounded entirely by an enveloping mucous sheath.