Trichia affinis de Bary 1870

Trichia affinis de Bary (Fig. 9)

Box B.M. 4147 [BM001247524]: the sample contains subglobose to globose sporocarps of 0.3–0.5 mm in diam., most of them broken and revealing the abundant bright yellow capillitium. Peridium single, thin and membranous, brittle, persistent at the base and with irregular dehiscence. Capillitium formed by yellow elastic tubular elaters, 5–6 µm diam., and with short pointed free ends of 5–10 µm in length. The elaters are ornamented with 3–4 spiral bands interconnected by transverse striations and showing spines that are difficult to discern in L.M. Under SEM the spines are distinctive with a height up to 0.5 µm. Spores are globose, 10.5‒13.8(‒14) × 10.5‒13.8(‒14) µm, av. 12.2 × 12.2 µm, Qav = 1 (n = 25), yellow in transmitted light, ornamented with a broad, irregular and sometimes fragmented reticulum. Under SEM the ornamentation is of cristate reticulate type with 3–4 meshes to a hemisphere and faint reticulation inside. The broad bands are up to 1 µm in height, which themselves are formed by a reticulum with numerous little holes.