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Ciboria amentacea compared with Ciboria coryli

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class same	Leotiomycetes (Leotiomycetes)	Leotiomycetes (Leotiomycetes)
Order same	Helotiales (Helotiales)	Helotiales (Helotiales)
Family same	Sclerotiniaceae	Sclerotiniaceae
Genus same	Ciboria	Ciboria
Species	Ciboria amentacea	Ciboria coryli

Evolutionary Relationship

and share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ciboria.

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Ciboria amentacea is a small cup fungus in the family Sclerotiniaceae, found across temperate Europe. This inconspicuous discomycete produces tiny, stalked, cup-shaped apothecia that emerge in late winter to early spring, typically from the catkins (aments) of alder (Alnus) or willow (Salix) that have fallen into standing water or wet soil. The fruiting bodies are pale brownish to tan, rarely exceeding a few millimeters in diameter, and are easily overlooked. The species name amentacea derives from the Latin word for catkin, reflecting its substrate specificity. Ciboria amentacea is saprotrophic, decomposing plant material in riparian and wetland habitats, contributing to nutrient cycling in these sensitive ecosystems. It has not been formally assessed by the IUCN. The genus Ciboria belongs to the broader Sclerotiniaceae family, which also includes economically important plant pathogens; however, Ciboria species are generally not regarded as pathogenic. Records of this fungus are scattered across central and northern Europe, with the fruiting season heavily dependent on winter temperatures and snowmelt timing. Its early spring phenology makes it an important early food source for springtail and mite communities. Identification requires microscopic examination of spore morphology and paraphysis structure.

Ciboria coryli is a saprotrophic cup fungus in the family Sclerotiniaceae, found in temperate Europe. It typically fruits on the fallen catkins and nuts of hazel (Corylus avellana) in moist woodland, hedgerow, and scrub habitats, emerging from sclerotia within decaying plant material. The fruiting bodies are stalked discs, pale to medium brown, and rarely exceed one centimeter in diameter. Like other members of the genus, Ciboria coryli is a specialist on a particular plant substrate, in this case hazel reproductive material, which determines its seasonal and geographic distribution. It is classified as Least Concern, with populations stable in regions where hazel woodland persists. Hazel coppice and mixed deciduous woodland across central and western Europe provide suitable habitat. The species name coryli directly references its host plant genus. Identification from related species requires microscopic examination of spore size and shape, as well as the character of paraphyses and excipular cells. Ciboria coryli contributes to the decomposition of woodland leaf litter and the cycling of nutrients from fallen organic matter back into the soil. As with many small discomycetes, it is under-recorded relative to its actual abundance. Conservation of hazel-rich woodland habitats benefits this species alongside a wide range of other specialist fungi and invertebrates associated with hazel.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden