Black Saddle: Red Data Book of Armenia

Category. VU– Vulnerable.

Brief description. Fruit body is 3–5 cm long. Cap is from 1 to 3 cm across, with free or unfixed margins, the upper part is black, the lower part is greyish, saddle–shaped, double–lobed. Sporosacs (asci) are 310– 340 x 15–17,5 µm, cylindrical. Paraphysis are 315–350 x 2,5 mkm, light brown, filamentous, widen from 5 to 7 mm on the edges. Spores are 19–22 x 14–17 µm, oblong–elliptic, with flat edges, smooth, arranged in one line.

Distribution. Generally in Europe, Asia, Northern and Southern America, Southern Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia). In Armenia it is rarely met, it can be found in Ijevan floristic region in “Dilijan” National Park – in the surroundings of lake Parz and in Sevan floristic region – in the territory of "Sevan" National Park.

Ecological, biological and phytocenological peculiarities. It can be met on sandy soil, in semi–deserts, in mountain belts, on the altitude of 1700–2200 m above sea level, from May to June. Saprotrophic or probably psammotrophic fungi on sandy soil.

Main factors of endangering. Limited distribution, degradation of ecosystems.

Nature conservation measures. In Armenia it is conserved in corresponding ecosystems of "Dilijan" and "Sevan" National Parks. It is necessary to carry out monitoring of the state of discovered populations and discovery of new biotopes.