Synonyms: Dasyscypha cupressi, Dasyscyphus cupressina, Helotium thujinum, Humaria cupressina, Lachnella cupressi, Lachnella cupressina, Mollardiomyces cupressina, Molliardiomyces cupressinus, Molliardomyces cupressina, Peziza cupressi, Peziza cupressina, Phialea cupressi, Phialea cupressina, Pithya cupressi, Pithya thujina.
Common name: juniper disco.
Pithya cupressina is a species of fungus in the Ascomycota phylum that infects coniferous trees, particularly cypress and juniper. In East and Central Texas, it has been found to cause canker diseases on eastern red cedar and southern red cedar, leading to sunken lesions and resinous blisters on the trunks and branches. The fungus produces yellow to orange apothecia on the surface of infected bark, typically during wet periods in spring and fall. It is commonly associated with stressed or wounded trees, and can contribute to tree decline and mortality in urban and natural landscapes throughout the region.
Juniper disco mushrooms (Pithya cupressina) on a fallen juniper twig (Juniperus virginiana) in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, November 10, 2021
8181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Close-up of tiny orange cup mushrooms Pithya cupressina on a fallen juniper twig (Juniperus virginiana) in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, November 10, 20218181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Tiny orange Ascomycete mushrooms Pithya cupressina on decaying litter under juniper trees in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, November 10, 20218181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Details of tiny orange cup mushrooms juniper disco (Pithya cupressina) on decaying litter under juniper trees in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, November 10, 20218181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Side view of juniper disco mushrooms (Pithya cupressina) on decaying litter under juniper trees in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, November 10, 20218181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Dry twig of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) with tiny orange cup mushrooms juniper disco (Pithya cupressina) taken from Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, November 10, 2021
Tiny orange cup mushrooms Pithya cupressina on a fallen juniper twig (Juniperus virginiana) near the lake in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 20228181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Close-up of tiny orange cup mushrooms Pithya cupressina on dry juniper twigs in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 20228181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Tiny orange cup mushrooms Pithya cupressina under Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) near the lake in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 20228181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Underside of tiny orange Ascomycete mushrooms Pithya cupressina on dry juniper twigs in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 20228181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Tiny orange Ascomycete mushrooms Pithya cupressina on decaying litter under juniper trees in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 20228181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Details of tiny Ascomycete mushrooms Pithya cupressina on decaying litter under juniper trees in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 20228181 Mumford Road, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
Tissues (under a microscope) of Ascomycete mushroom Pithya cupressina collected in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 2022
Asci and paraphyses (under a microscope) of Ascomycete mushroom Pithya cupressina collected in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 2022
Asci with spores (under a microscope) of Ascomycete mushroom Pithya cupressina collected in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 2022
Cap tissue (under a microscope) of Ascomycete mushroom Pithya cupressina collected in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 2022
Details of asci and paraphyses of Ascomycete mushroom Pithya cupressina collected in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 2022
Close-up of asci with spores of Ascomycete mushroom Pithya cupressina collected in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, February 2, 2022Pithya cupressina was observed on fallen juniper twigs and decaying litter under juniper trees in Lake Bryan Park, Bryan, Texas. The fungus produced tiny orange cup-shaped mushrooms that were visible on dry twigs and litter in November 2021 and February 2022. Microscopic examination of the tissues revealed asci and paraphyses, with asci containing spores. The cap tissue was also examined under a microscope. The fungus was found to be associated with Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and was present on decaying litter and dry twigs near the lake. The observations suggest that Pithya cupressina is a common inhabitant of juniper ecosystems in East and Central Texas, and can be found throughout the year, at least in certain months.
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