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 Calicioids of Temperate Regions
0.01 (development)
Eric B. Peterson
 

Stenocybe

Phaeocalicium is anatomically close to Stenocybe.  About the only distinction that has been maintained in the literature is the spore size: Less than 20 μm for Phaeocalicium, mostly geater than 20 μm for Stenocybe (except for S. pullatula and the smaller spores of S. procrastinata - although the later almost always has plenty that are greater than 20 μm; see Peterson 2021).  Distinguishing genera only by spore size seems artificial and I suggest spore shape and spore wall characters may be of greater use. Most species of Stenocybe are more pointed than in Phaeocalicium (although the type species for Stenocybe has spores with rounded ends in my experience).  Stenocybe spores also tend to have pale apices and perhaps different wall structure. It is possible that there ought to be three: spores with dark, rounded end; spores with pale, rounded ends, and spores with distinctly pointed ends. These need to be carefully examined along with phylogenetic analysis in order to sort these genera out.

Taxa covered (11):

Key to Species of Stenocybe (and some Phaeocalicium)

Validation script believes the following taxa are missing from the keys:

  1. Stenocybe flexuosa
  2. Stenocybe montana


  1. 1a. Spores generally < 30μm long.
    1. 2a. Spores 5-7 septate, swelling in wet mount so as to split at some of the setpae.Stenocybe fragmenta
    2. 2b. Spores mostly 3 septate (sometimes as few as 1-septate).
      1. 3a. Spores generally < 20μm long.
        1. 4a. On twigs of Alnus, especially dead twigs overhanging water. Ascomata 0.5 - 0.8mm tall, black, remaining opaque when moist. Spores 10 - 20μm, becoming 1-3 septate.Stenocybe pullatula
        2. 4b. On twigs of Populus. Ascomata up to 0.6 mm tall, brownish, becoming pale and transparent when moist. Spores 13 - 20μm long, simple or 1-3 septate, often slightly constricted at the septa.Phaeocalicium tremulicola
      2. 3b. Spores generally > 20μm long.
        1. 5a. On trunks of conifers (Abies), especially near resin blisters. Ascomata 0.8-1.5 mm tall. Spores 20 - 30μm, 3-septate.Stenocybe major
        2. 5b. On hardwoods.
          1. 6a. Spores slightly constricted at the septae, 14 - 30μm long. Ascomata generally > 0.5mm tall. On smooth bark of young Quercus.Stenocybe minutissima
          2. 6b. Spores not constricted at the septae, 20 - 30μm long. Habitat not as above.
            1. 7a. Thus far known only from asia on twigs of Lonicera. Spores 20 - 26μm, 3-septate, not constricted at the septa. Ascomata 0.5-0.8 mm tall.Phaeocalicium ahtii
            2. 7b. Thus far known only from western North America, on trunks of old Cercocarpus (C. ledifolius), on or under flaking bark. Spores ca. 20 - 25 μm, 3 septate, with pale apical cells when 3 septae are well developed. Ascomata mostly less than 0.5 mm tall.Stenocybe procrastinata
  2. 1b. Spores generally > 30μm long.
    1. 8a. Thus far known only from New Zealand, on trunks of hardwoods, especially Weinmannia. Spores 35 - 43μm long, 3 septate, thick-walled, end lumina very small and pale, septa strongly but unevenly thickened to form an hour-glass shape. Ascomata 0.9 - 1.3mm tall, pale to dark olivaceous or greyish.Stenocybe bartlettii
    2. 8b. Found elsewhere. Septa more or less evenly thickened, not at all forming an hour glass shape.
      1. 9a. On bryophytes (leafy liverworts). Ascomata 1 - 1.5mm tall, black. Spores 30 - 40μm, 3 septate, central cells large, with rounded oil droplets, and end cells much smaller and paler. Thus far known only from Europe.Stenocybe bryophila
      2. 9b. On vascular plants.
        1. 10a. Thus far known only from western North America on mature to old-growth conifers. Ascomata 1.1-2.1 mm tall, black. Spores 42 - 55μm long, 5-7 septate, walls and septa evenly thickened, pale at the apices, developing an ornamentation of minute warts.Stenocybe clavata
        2. 10b. Thus far known only from Europe on hardwoods (mainly Ilex). Ascomata up to 1.8 mm tall, black. Spores 35 - 90μm long, variably (1-) 3 (-6) septate, septae evenly thickened, with a small, paler, sometimes extended nipple at the apices.Stenocybe septata

Species Details

Stenocybe bartlettii Tibell
ID=190
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Stenocybe bryophila W. Watson
ID=191
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Stenocybe clavata Tibell
ID=192
Type(s):

-1991
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Stenocybe clavata. Lane County, Oregon.
Stenocybe clavata. Lane County, Oregon.
Stenocybe clavata. Lane County, Oregon.

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Stenocybe flexuosa Selva & Tibell
ID=193
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Selva & Tibell 1999
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Stenocybe fragmenta Peterson & Rikkinen
ID=194
Type(s): (Peterson & Rikkinen1998)
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Unspecified collections:
Stenocybe fragmenta Illustration of type specimen, on mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus) in New Mexico, USA.
Stenocybe fragmenta 2/13/98 28 mm lense reversal 1:15 flash f/2.8 EBP# 2527 from 35mm slide
Stenocybe fragmenta EBP #3031 USA: Oregon: Benton
Stenocybe fragmenta EBP#3031

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Stenocybe major (Nyl.) K?rber
ID=195
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Stenocybe minutissima (G. Merr.) Zahlbr.
ID=196
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Stenocybe montana Titov
ID=197
Type(s): (2006): Titov 2006
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Stenocybe procrastinata E.B. Peterson
ID=158
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Phaeocalicium cercocarpicola E.B. Peterson & Titov
Unspecified collections:
Phaeocalicium cercocarpicola. EBP#3562.
Phaeocalicium cercocarpicola. EBP#3562.

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Stenocybe pullatula (Ach.) Stein
ID=198
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Stenocybe septata (Leighton) Massal.
ID=199
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Count of taxa = 11
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