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Norsk tittel: Caliciopsis calicioides, en bark-
levende sekksporesopp på osp ny for Norge
Jordal JB, Nordén B, Gaarder G, 2014. Cali-
ciopsis calicioides, a corticolous ascomycete
on Populus tremula new to Norway. Agarica
2014, vol 35: 7-12.
KEYWORDS
Caliciopsis calicioides, Eurotiomycetes,
Coryneliales, Coryneliaceae, Populus tremula,
boreal forest
NØKKELORD
Caliciopsis calicioides, Eurotiomycetes, Coryne-
liales, Coryneliaceae, osp, boreal skog
SAMMENDRAG
Caliciopsis calicioides (Eurotiomycetes,
Coryneliales, Coryneliaceae) er en særegen
og lett bestemmelig sekksporesopp som
vokser i barksprekker på gamle, levende
ospetrær. Arten er tidligere ikke rapportert
fra Norge. Den ble funnet av oss i Molde,
Møre og Romsdal i 2012, og i 2013-2014 fant vi
den på noen flere lokaliteter i Molde, Nesset og
Tingvoll. Vi har også fått opplysninger om et
eldre, upublisert funn fra Hamarøy, Nordland
i 1994. I resten av Europa er arten så langt
bare kjent fra Sverige og Finland. Den er
også kjent fra Nord-Amerika. Den synes ofte
å være assosiert med sjeldne eller rødlistede
lav og en interessant funga i eldre skog.
ABSTRACT
Caliciopsis calicioides (Eurotiomycetes,
Coryneliales, Coryneliaceae) is a peculiar
and easily identified ascomycete, growing in
bark fissures of old, living Populus tremula.
The species has not previously been reported
from Norway. It was discovered by us in Molde,
Møre og Romsdal in 2012, and during 2013
and 2014 we found additional localities in
Molde, Nesset and Tingvoll municipalities.
An older, unpublished record from Hamarøy,
Nordland in 1994 also came to our knowledge.
In the rest of Europe, it is so far only known
from Sweden and Finland. It is also known
from North America. It often seems to co-
occur with rare or red-listed lichens and an
interesting funga of bark-living fungi in
natural like forests.
INTRODUCTION
The genus Caliciopsis (Eurotiomycetes,
Coryneliales, Coryneliaceae) contains species
causing diseases in trees, e.g. C. pinea Peck
(Benny et al. 1985) and species belonging to
a relatively small but conspicuous guild of
fungi growing on the bark of seemingly healthy
living trees, like C. calicioides (Ellis & Everh.)
Fitzp. growing on Populus (Fitzpatrick 1942).
The ascocarps of C. calicioides may super-
ficially resemble those of the lichen genera
Chaenotheca or Calicium, hence the name
Caliciopsis, but it is not lichenized. The
structure of the ascocarps is also entirely
different. The genus Caliciopsis is charac-
terized by long stipitate, deliquescent asci
and non-septate spores. The often long and
AGARICA vol. 35 7
Caliciopsis calicioides, a corticolous ascomycete
on Populus tremula new to Norway
John Bjarne Jordal1, Björn Nordén2, Geir Gaarder3
1Biolog J.B. Jordal, Auragata 3, NO-6600 Sunndalsøra
2Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo
3Miljøfaglig Utredning, Gunnars veg 10, NO-6610 Tingvoll, Norway
John Bjarne Jordal et al.
thin ascocarps also have an elevated ascigerous
cavity which is seen as a swollen part, placed
either near the top, in the middle part or near
the base (Fitzpatrick 1942). During field
investigations in Molde municipality, Møre og
Romsdal in 2012 one of us (B. Nordén) found
C. calicioides, and this made us search further
for this species at other sites. This resulted in
findings at some additional localities in 2013
and 2014. Later, an older occurrence of the
species from Nordland in 1994 came to our
knowledge. We here report the species as new
to Norway and shortly present its ecology
based on field observations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collections of C. calicioides were found on
bark of Populus tremula during field investi-
gations in Møre og Romsdal in 2012, 2013 and
2014. Positions are taken in UTM (WGS84,
zone 32) with handheld GPS, with an accuracy
of +/- 10 m. Microscopic slides were prepared
from dried material and mounted in water for
measurements and photographs. The collections
were studied using Wild dissecting microscope
and Motic light microscope. Macro photographs
were taken with a Canon EOS 650D digital
camera with Canon MP-E 65 mm 1-5x macro
lens. Micro photographs were made by a Motic
microscope camera. Collector abbreviations
8 AGARICA vol. 35
Figure 1. Caliciopsis calicioides. A. Ascocarps on bark of Populus tremula (Molde: Rislia south).
Note the swollen region in the middle of the ascocarp where the centrum cavity with asci is located.
Bar=1mm. B. Asci. Bar=10 μm. C. Spores. Bar=10 μm. Photos: J.B. Jordal, 8th March 2014.
John Bjarne Jordal et al.
include BN (Björn Nordén), GGa (Geir
Gaarder) and JBJ (John Bjarne Jordal).
Collections will be deposited in O.
DESCRIPTION
The description is based on our material from
Møre og Romsdal.
The long and thin black ascocarps occur
on the bark of Populus tremula (Fig. 1A).
The ascocarps are straight to slightly curved,
mostly 1.0-2.5 (-3) mm high and 0.1-0.2 mm
thick. They are clustered a few or several
together arising from minute black stromata.
Mature ascocarps have a more or less central
bulge (0.2-0.4 mm thick) containing the asci.
The asci are clavate or balloon-shaped with a
very long tapering stipe, the spore-bearing
part is 15-20 x 10-12 μm (Fig. 1B). The
ascospores are ellipsoid, gradually changing
from almost hyaline (immature) to brown
(mature), 6.0-8.5 x 3.5-5.5 μm (Fig. 1C).
Released spores move inside the beak of the
ascocarp from the hymenium in the bulge to
the tip. The tip is bulbous, consisting of hyphae
mixed with the mature brown ascospores,
which are often staining the tip more or less
brown, forming a mazaedium-like structure
(Fig. 1A).
Material studied
All finds are on bark of Populus tremula in
old deciduous forests together with Betula
pubescens and often mixed with Pinus sylvestris
and Sorbus aucuparia.
Møre og Romsdal: Molde: Brenslefjellet,
south-facing hillside; position E 431716 N
6955892, 235 m asl, 16.05.2012, leg. BN &
JBJ and 12.01.2013, leg. JBJ; on 16 other
trees E 431530-431586 N 6956022-6956091,
270-300 m asl, 04.01.2014, leg. GGa & JBJ
(Fig. 3). - south of Bakksætra, northwest-
facing hillside, position E 425673 N 6957465,
280 m asl, 20.10.2013, leg. GGa & Steinar
Vatne. - Rislia south, west-facing hillside on 5
trees, position E 425190-425226, N 6955682-
6955735, 230-250 m asl, 05.01.2014, leg. GGa
& JBJ. - Rislia north, west-facing hillside, on 6
trees, position E 425115-425142, N 6956257-
6956330, 240-245 m asl, 05.01.2014, leg. GGa
& JBJ. Nesset: near Barsteintjørna, east-facing
hillside, position E 439957 N 6961379, 270
m asl (within the nature reserve); southeast-
facing hillside on 3 trees E 440278 N 6962120,
280 m asl (outside the nature reserve); 09.03.
2013, leg. GGa. Tingvoll: Durmålhaugen,
north-facing hillside, on 30 trees, diam. 30-
80 cm, deepest bark fissures of each tree 20-60
mm, position E 468992-469232, N 6971602-
6971738, 125-220 m asl, 22.03.2014, leg.
GGa & JBJ.
Additional data (no specimen collected):
Nordland: Hamarøy: Kvannskogen (nature
reserve), old deciduous forest with big
Populus tremula, UTM (WGS84, zone 33) E
0540600 N 7547300 (+/-500 m), 15-20 m asl,
07.03.1994, leg. Mats Karström (Jokkmokk,
AGARICA vol. 35 9
Figure 2. Distribution of Caliciopsis calicioides
in Norway. Bar=200 km.
John Bjarne Jordal et al.
Sweden; personal information in email 07.03.
2014, the finder has drawings made from
fresh material). M. Karström has also found
the species in coastal areas of Norrbotten,
Sweden; this material was controlled by Ove
Eriksson, University of Umeå.
The distribution is shown in Fig. 2.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION IN
NORWAY
Caliciopsis calicioides was growing in bark
fissures of old Populus tremula trees in old
deciduous or mixed forests with Betula pube-
scens, Sorbus aucuparia, Salix caprea and
sometimes Pinus sylvestris. The diameter
and deepest bark fissure was measured on 57
of the 63 host trees in Møre og Romsdal. The
diameter was 30-90 cm, and the deepest bark
fissure of each tree was 20-60 mm. The
diameter of the largest tree at each locality
was 60-90 cm. One tree was broken and had
died recently, but still had attached bark. The
species seemed to prefer a southern to western/
northwestern exposition on the trees, but at
the locality Durmålhaugen it was also found
exposed to the north and east. It was found
up to 3.5 m above the ground. Caliciopsis
calicioides was mainly growing in fissures
where few lichens and mosses were present,
but on one tree with a very large population we
also found it on exposed bark between the
fissures. Two other corticolous fungi on the
Populus trees were Lasiobelonium corticale
(Pers.) Raitv. and Amphisphaerella dispersella
(Nyl.) O.E. Erikss. Two of the six localities in
Møre og Romsdal are also the southernmost
10 AGARICA vol. 35
Figure 3. Big aspen Populus tremula with Caliciopsis calicioides in boreal forest. Molde: Brenslefjellet,
4th January 2014. Photo: J.B. Jordal.
John Bjarne Jordal et al.
known localities in Norway of Staurolemma
omphalarioides (Anzi) P.M. Jørg. & Henssen,
a rare lichen species occuring on old Populus
tremula in coastal areas of Middle Norway
(Holien 2011). Staurolemma omphalarioides
and C. calicioides were occuring together on
several trees in the locality Brenslefjellet,
Molde. The localities in Møre og Romsdal are
situated 125-300 m above sea level, mainly in
the middle boreal vegetation zone (MB) but
with the lowest parts touching the southern
boreal vegetation zone (SB). They belong in
the markedly oceanic vegetation section (O2).
The locality in Hamarøy, Nordland is situated
in the middle boreal vegetation zone (MB)
and the weakly oceanic vegetation zone (O1)
(Moen 1999).
DISCUSSION
Taxonomic notes
Using Fitzpatrick (1942) or Benny et al. (1985)
our material easily keys out as C. calicioides;
the main characteristica are ellipsoidal asco-
spores and ascigerous locule median to sub-
median. In C. subcorticalis (Cooke & Ellis)
Fitzp. and C. tiliae Arnold the ascigerous locule
is subterminal above a long stalk. Further, C.
subcorticalis has smaller, subglobose spores
and grows on Quercus, while C. tiliae is only
known on Tilia. Caliciopsis toonae Rikkinen
described from China has a median ascigerous
locule, but smaller, subglobose spores (Rik-
kinen 2000). The measures of ascospores and
other characteristica in our material, as well
as the habitat, is in good compliance with
Fitzpatrick (1942) and Benny et al. (1985).
Nomenclature and systematics
Mycobank and Index Fungorum cite Exophiala
calicioides as the current name of this species
with reference to Okada et al. (2000). Okada
et al. (2000) use Sporocybe calicioides Fr. as
basionym. The description by Fries (1832)
clearly shows that this is another fungus.
Fitzpatrick (1920) questioned Sporocybe
calicioides Fr. as basionym for C. calicioides,
and based his new combination on Hypsotheca
calicioides Ellis & Everh. As there is no con-
nection between Exophiala calicioides (Fr.)
G. Okada & Seifert and Caliciopsis calicioides
(Ellis & Everh.) Fitzp. the correct name of our
species is Caliciopsis calicioides. Exophiala
has been used for the asexual stage of fungi
belonging to Herpotrichiellaceae (Chaeto-
thyriales) and is not closely related to Calici-
opsis in Coryneliaceae (Coryneliales).
Distribution
In Sweden, 11 localities of Caliciopsis calici-
oides are presented by Artportalen (2014),
mainly along the coast of the Baltic sea in
the central and northern parts of the country.
Delin (2005) and M. Karström (pers. comm.
07.03.2014) give additional information
indicating that there may be 20-30 known
localities of this species in Sweden. In Finland
there are two localities known in the western
parts of the country (S. Huhtinen pers. comm.
27.06. and 11.09.2014). The distribution in
Norway seems to have its optimum in the
middle boreal zone, which coincides well
with the data from Sweden and Finland. It
also seems to avoid continental areas. Searches
on the Internet, e.g. in different national online
databases, revealed no further information on
this species from other European countries.
In North America it is known from northern
United States and southern Canada (Fitzpatrick
1942, Benny et al. 1985).
Ecology
All finds of Caliciopsis calicioides in Norway
have been made in bark fissures of large P.
tremula in old-growth boreal forests. In
Sweden and Finland it was also found on old
and big aspens, and one of the Finnish localities
has the largest and oldest aspens in the country
(Artportalen 2014, Delin 2005, M. Karström
and S. Huhtinen pers. comm.). In North
America it is found on various species of
AGARICA vol. 35 11
John Bjarne Jordal et al.
Populus (Fitzpatrick 1942, Benny et al. 1985).
In Norway, big aspens especially occur out-
side the distribution area of spruce Picea abies,
and can have old and stable populations in
steep areas in the southern, western and middle
parts of Norway, and also some places in the
northern parts of the country (Bendiksen et
al. 2008). Caliciopsis calicioides should be
looked for in these regions. However, in
2013-2014 we investigated hundreds of old
aspens in many different localities in Møre
og Romsdal without finding the species, and
we consider it to be rare. Old aspen trees are
important substrates for many red-listed
species in old boreal forests and needs to be
considered in sustainable management. We
think that C. calicioides should be considered
in future revisions of the red lists of Norway,
Sweden and Finland.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wish to thank Mats Karström for infor-
mation on this species from Norway and
Sweden, and for the permission to publish his
find in Hamarøy, Nordland. We also thank
Seppo Huhtinen for information regarding
the occurrence in Finland. This work was a
spin-off from the project ´Pyrenomycetes
(Sordariomycetes and similar fungi) in
temperate deciduous forests of southern and
western Norway´ lead by Björn Nordén and
financed by Artsdatabanken (the Norwegian
Biodiversity Information Centre).
REFERENCES
Artportalen 2014. http://www.artportalen.se.
Cited 09.03.2014.
Bendiksen E, Brandrud TE, Røsok Ø (eds.),
Framstad E, Gaarder G, Hofton TH, Jordal
JB, Klepsland JT, Reiso S, 2008. Boreale
lauvskoger i Norge. Naturverdier og udekket
vernebehov. - Boreal deciduous forest in
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NINA Report 367. 331 pp.
Benny GL, Samuelson DA, Kimbrough JW,
1985. Studies on the Coryneliales IV. Calici-
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Delin A, 2005. Caliciopsis calicioides i Trönö.
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