An emendation of the genus Hyaloscypha to include Fuscoscypha (Hyaloscyphaceae, Helotiales, Ascomycotina)

Authors: Baral, Hans-Otto & De Sloover, Jacques & Huhtinen, Seppo & Laukka, Tomi & Stenroos, Soili
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 49 (2009), Issue 1, pages 1-17.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.2009.430
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Key words: Hyaloscyphaceae, Hyaloscypha, Fuscoscypha, Betulina, Ureolella, bryophilous ascomycetes

Abstract: The monotypic genus Fuscoscypha possesses hairs similar as in the genusHyaloscypha but differs by grey-olivaceous-brown apothecia with short dark stipes. Molecular data proves that the pigmentation does not permit delimitation of a separate genus, as white and brown taxa do not form separate clades. Followingly, Fuscoscypha is here considered to be a synonym of Hyaloscypha. Three of the here treated four species have an olivaceous-brown excipulum. Two are saprophytes on decaying leaves and fruits of angiosperms: F. acicularum, the type species ofFuscoscypha, and Hyaloscypha fuscostipitata comb. nov. (formerly placed in Betulina). Two are biotrophic parasites on Bryophyta: Hyaloscypha hepaticola comb. nov. (formerly placed in Trichopeziza) and the hyaline-excipled Hyaloscypha albocarpa spec. nov. which is otherwise very similar to H. hepaticola. The type species of the genus Betulina, B. hirta, is found to be an earlier synonym of Urceolella salicicola (= U. graddonii) . The new combination Urceolella hirta is therefore proposed, hence Betulina is considered a synonym of Urceolella.