Neonectria punicea, perhaps – raspberries on holly

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September 14, 2024 at 5:30 pm #32881
Glos lichens
I saw this lovely fungus on a veteran holly trunk in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, yesterday. It reminds me of raspberries.

Picture-matching takes me to Neonectria punicea, but I did not take a specimen to check the microscopic detail.

Do I need to, and if so, what are the critical features, please.

Juliet
September 20, 2024 at 12:31 pm #46213
Lancashire Lad
Moderator
Hi,

60+ views to date, but with no replies. – Possibly because Nectria aren’t the easiest genera to confidently identify from photos alone.

I would be tempted to agree that (just from the photo) Nectria punicea would look to be a likely option, but on Holly, the very similar (macroscopically speaking) Neonectria ilicis, would seem to be most likely. – I wouldn’t be confident on any Nectria without microscopy.

You ask about critical features.

This paper: – Studies of Pyrenomycetes, Nectria – C. Booth, Mycological Papers, 1959, is still very useful and should give you the necessary micro-characteristics needed.

(Including specific microscopical detail & diagram for Nectria punicea var. ilicis – (Current name Neonectria ilicis): – http://www.ascofrance.com/uploads/forum_file/1959-n73-Booth-0001.pdf

NB: That PDF file is downloadable from the “AscoFrance” website, but as you will see from the URL, the site is designated as “Not Secure” (being http and not https), so you may not be comfortable in downloading from there.

I can only advise from personal experience to date of my interactions with that site, but I have posted on there numerous times, and have received very competent, expert opinion from its contributors. (Chris Yeates was a regular contributor there). – I have also downloaded several identification keys and mycological papers from the site (this paper included), without any problems.

If you do decide to download the paper, your browser might automatically block the download with an insecure site warning. – You would have to override such a warning, (I have to do that with Google Chrome).

See also: – https://fungi.myspecies.info/taxonomy/term/7117/descriptions

Regards,

Mike.
October 13, 2024 at 2:51 pm #46214
Glos lichens
I secured a tiny specimen and looked at the papers you recommended, Mike. (The Booth one on Ascofrance downloaded without warning or complaint, thank goodness.)

It answers well enough to Neonectria ilicis, though the spores are rarely larger than 17x7um and I didn’t observe any browning of the most mature spores. Also, it was growing on a lovely big strong grey-shiny branch (though on a veteran holly) that didn’t look sick at all. I’ll have to keep an eye on it as well as looking for further examples.

I’ll iRecord it as Neonectria ilicis, referencing this forum.

Paul Cannon says it would probably have had more views if I had put it in the Ascomycetes area. Should it be moved?

Herewith some more photos, and thanks for all your help.

Juliet
October 14, 2024 at 10:48 am #46215
Lancashire Lad
Moderator
Hello Juliet,

Good that you were able to download the paper from AscoFrance, and that you have been able to confidently get to species level with your microscopy.

We do prefer all initial ID queries for unidentified species to be posted in the Fungi ID requests forum, but certainly, once a confident identification has been achieved, the topic can be moved into a more relevant forum.

I will move the topic to the Ascomycetes Forum, but will leave a “Shadow Topic” here so that it can be seen from either forum.

(Any future additions /replies to this topic can be made from either forum and will appear correctly.)

Regards,

Mike.
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