Idaho Discomycetes. I. A New Genus of the Sarcoscyphaceae

SUMMARY

The new, monotypic genus Neournula (type, Neournula nordmanensis sp. nov.) is described in the family Sarcoscyphaceae, tribe Urnuleae. Neournula is distinguished from other genera of the Sarcoscyphaceae by its possession of non-gelatinous apothecia and verrucose ascospores. The ascospore ornamentation stains in heated cotton blue. The ascus bases are blunt or lobed and each ascus is attached to the hypothecium by a narrow hypha.

Neournula nordmanensis is saprophytic on conifer debris. It is known only from Idaho, Washington State, and British Columbia. The species has been cultured on a medium prepared by autoclaving a portion of its substrate in distilled water and adding agar to the resulting extract. In culture small, flat, black stromata are produced. There is no known conidial state.