Two new purplish species of Pezizales from the temperate forests of Mexico: Marcelleina evangelinae (Pezizaceae) and Smardaea perezsilvae (Pyropyxidaceae)

Two new species of Pezizales (Ascomycota) with violet-colored apothecia and inamyloid asci, growing on decaying wood and on soil, are described from Mexico. The first taxon, Marcelleina evangelinae sp. nov., has reticulate and globose ascospores measuring 9–11 μm diam. It grows in mixed forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

The second taxon, Smardaea perezsilvae sp. nov., has equilateral to fusoid ascospores measuring 20–26 × 10–12 µm, crested with few pustules. It grows in the mixed forests of the Transversal Neovolcanic Axis. The histochemical data for both species indicate that their pigments contain phenolic groups.

Descriptions, histochemistry, illustrations, phylogeny, and keys to both species are presented.