With sapling of scrub oak in chamise-dominated chaparral. Cap 1.6-2.6 cm, broadly umbonate, margins curved inward; golden brown, fibrillose, rimose (“stretch marks” at margins), vellipellis entire, appearing variegated or splotchy as though hygrophanous. Not scaly. Gills adnate, cream to tan; upper gill and lower cap context with distinct olive tones. Stipe 1-1.5 x 0.7 cm, incarnate (color of aged bone with reddish orange tinges), bulbous, hollow. Caulocystidia only on upper 1/3. Odor farinaceous.
Spores elliptical, asymmetric, 10.2-10.8[11.4,11.5] x [4.8]5.2-5.6[6.1,6.5] μm
Gill trama cellular.
Pleurocystidia 52x11 μm, ventricose, lageniform to subcapitate, 1.2 μm thick. Cheilocystidia shorter, lageniform.

HAY-F-000477 found by Harte Singer

mounted in h2o followed by Lugol's. Capitotricha bicolor initially suspected, Erioscyphella suggested by Bjorn Wergen. ITS forthcoming.

Collected during the 2023 Spring Meeting of the Pacific Northwest Key Council in Peachland, British Columbia, Canada.

Mag. 400x

• A water sample was taken on 09/03/2023 from pond-edge using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microbes. Air temp. 80°F.

Smaller than S.polytrichum found in this area, this long-spined Staurastrum is a very good match with S. gladiosum as seen here:

1. http://www.digicodes.info/Staurastrum_gladiosum.html
2. http://desmids.science4all.nl/?Desmid_pictures___Staurastrum&pic=29&page=0

Not only do the long spines and small size suggest gladiosum, but also the slight depression of the cell wall at the apices. This latter feature is shared by the current specimen and the 2 cited as examples.

L = 32µ
W = 33µ
Isthmus = 12µ

Mag. 400x

• A water sample was taken on 09/03/2023 from pond-edge using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microbes. Air temp. 80°F.

These are 2 different specimens that I assume to be the same taxon. The left most specimen presents a partial lateral view, the right specimen, an apical view. For reference images, see https://www.outerhebridesalgae.uk/desmids/desmid-species.php?id=607 and http://www.digicodes.info/Staurastrum_alternans.html#2011019018.

Growing from mosses on rocks in live oak and Umbellularia forest in hillside ravine. Pileus dark blue with nearly black scurfy scales. Lamellae light bluish white, sometimes forking, narrowly attached, darkening and becoming covered in pink spores in age, UV+ bright bluish white. Stipe smoothly fibrillose, lacking cottony white base.

Growing in clusters and singly from soil near large A. menziesii with Q. agrifolia, Q. lobata/garryana, P. ponderosa that have mostly burnt, and an understory of dense Cytisus scoparius. Pileus pale yellow and whitish, broadly bell-shaped, drying ochre in age. Lamellae thick, creamy, highly uneven, forking, and decurrent. Stipe thick at the apex, tapering to the thinnest point at the base. No distinguishable scent, KOH-, UV+ blue-green

Transcribed from handwritten notes:

Pyrogallol and guaiacol negative oncap.

Pileus 18-57 mm across, up to 36 mm tall.
Tightly round-convex to campanulate-umbilicate.
Cap often contorted and wavy, some strongly crenulate or splitting at margin. Deep vinaceous ruby red becoming grapefruit red or pink over buff-beige pink background.

Extremely finely tomentulose at disc, when very young (nearly smooth). With small but distinct scales outwards and irregularly in age. Scales not or barely uplifted, but not entirely appressed.

Stipe 24.9 to 43 to 50 mm tall. 4.2 to 8.3 to 9.6 mm wide. Equal or slightly enlarged at base, often mostly hidden by drooping cap.

Often strongly grooved or flattened. Not entirely smooth (ie. vertically fibrous), with white punctae or scurfs in some specimens. Pale flesh colored, pinkish cream, or pallid rosy pink. Basal mycelium abundant, rising up to 1/2 stipe. White, not contiguous.

Lamellae pale creamy pink becoming pinker in age, and with vinaceous staining at maturity. Edge somewhat eroded even when fresh and with transvenose lamellulae. Close, irregular, deep.