Specimens examined:
On Elaeocarpus dentatus (J.R. & G. Forst.) Vahl New Zealand, Northland, Omahuta State Forest, 22.X.1987, E.H.C. McKenzie & P.R. Johnston (PDD 60838 - holotype).
On Gahnia sp. New Caledonia, Mt des Koghis,15.XI.1987, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 60753).
On Metrosideros kermadecensis W.R.B. Oliver New Zealand, Kermadec Islands, Raoul Island, IX.1988, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 59365).

Colonies conspicuous, effuse. Conidiophores arising from reddish-brown, smooth, swollen cells, macronematous, mononematous, single, unbranched, erect, straight or curved, smooth, septate, reddish-brown, slightly paler towards the acute apex, up to 470 µm long x 8.5-11.5 µm thick near the base, tapering to 5-8 µm in the fertile region. Fertile region subapical, 45-75 µm long, 12-16.5 µm wide, base to fertile region 90-200 µm, apex to fertile region 7-16 µm. Conidiogenous cells obscured by a shield of sterile, pale brown cells; each shield cell 2.5-5 tm wide, extending 3-5.5 µm beyond the conidiophore wall. Conidia produced in slime and adhering to the fertile part of the conidiophore in a lateral droplet; hyaline, cylindrical or obclavate, straight or slightly curved, smooth, 1-septate, (14-) 17-24 (-26.5) x (1.5-) 1.75-2.25 (-2.5) µm, apex acute, base rounded or obconically truncate.

Coloniae conspicuae, effusae. Conidiophora e cellulis rubro-brunnea, macronematosa, mononematosa, singula, eramosa, erecta, recta vel curvata, laevia, septata, rubro-brunnea, apicem versus parce pallidiora, acuta, usque ad 470 µm longa, ad basim 8.5-11.5 µm lata, ad apicem 5-8 µm. Zona fertilis subapicalis, scutelliformia, 45-75 µm longa, 12-16.5 µm crassa; cellulae conidiogenae scutello cellularum sterilium pallide fusco celatae; cellulae steriles 2.5-5 µm latae, extendentes 3-5.5 µm ultra conidiophororum parietem. Conidia hyalina, adherentia, cylindrica vel obclavata, recta vel parvum curvata, laevia, 1-septata, (14-) 17-24 (-26.5) x (1.5-) 1.75-2.25 (-2.5) µm, apice acuta, basi rotundata vel obconice truncata. In foliis mortuis Elaeocarpus dentatus (J.R. & G. Forst.) Vahl (Elaeocarpaceae), Gahnia sp. (Cyperaceae) et Metrosideros kermadecensis W.R. B. Oliver (Myrtacceae). Holotypus PDD 60838.

The specific epithet refers to the straight conidia; most other Cryptophiale species have variously curved conidia.
The conidia of C. orthospora, though very similar to those of C. manifesta B. Sutton & Hodges, are more robust, with the fertile region just below the apex rather than in the middle third of the conidiophore. The conidiogenous cells of C. manifesta are conspicuous, whereas they are obscured by the shield cells in C. orthospora.
Including these two new species, there are now 14 known species of Cryptophiale. Sutton et al. (1989) provided a key to nine species, and since then 3 others have been described. These are C. insularis McKenzie (1993) on Dracophyllum arboreum Ckn., from Chatham Islands, New Zealand, and C. caudata and C. novae-caledoniae McKenzie & Kuthubutheen (1993) on Freycinetia spp. from Malaysia and New Caledonia, respectively.
To date, the only published records of Cryptophiale species from New Zealand or New Caledonia are of C. insularis and C. novae-caledoniae. Two additional species, known to be widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, have also been found.

Specimens examined: On Astelia sp. New Zealand, Coromandel, Little Barrier Island, Thumb Track, 6.IV.1988, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 60752).
On Gahnia setifolia (A. Rich.) Hook. f. New Zealand, Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, Walker's Bush, 4.VIII.1982, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 60750); Waitakere Ranges, Turanga Road, 1.IX. 1992, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 60751 - holotype).

Colonies conspicuous, effuse. Conidiophores setiform, arising from reddish-brown, smooth, swollen cells, macronematous, mononematous, single, unbranched, erect, straight or slightly curved, smooth, septate, reddish-brown, slightly paler towards the acute apex, up to 175 µm long x 4-6.5 µm thick near the base, tapering to 1-1.5 µm near the apex. Fertile region 13-36 µm long, 9.5-15 µm wide, usually more than halfway up the conidiophore, base to fertile region 40-95 µm, apex to fertile region 35-60 µm. Conidiogenous cells obscured by a shield of sterile, pale brown cells; each shield cell 5-8 µm long, 1.5-4 µm wide. Conidia produced in slime and adhering to the fertile part of the conidiophore in a lateral droplet; hyaline, curved or falcate, filiform, smooth, not appearing septate, (5.5-) 7.5-10.5 (-12) x c. 0.25 µm.

Coloniae conspicuae, effusae. Conidiophora e cellulis rubro-brunnea, macronematosa, mononematosa, singula, eramosa, erecta, recta vel parum curvata, laevia, septata, rubro-brunnea, apicem versus parce pallidiora, apice acuta, usque ad 175 µm longa, ad basim 4-6.5 µm lata, ad apicem 1-1.5 µm. Zona fertilis ultramediana, scutelliformia, 13-36 µm longa, 9.5-15 µm crassa; cellulae conidiogenae scutello cellularum sterilium pallide fusco celatae; cellulae steriles 5-8 µm longae, 1.5-4 µm latae. Conidia hyalina, adherentia, curvata vel falcata, filiformia, laevia, eseptata, (5.5-) 7.5-10.5 (-12) x c. 0.25 µm. In foliis mortuis Astelia sp. (Liliaceae) et Gahnia setifolia (A. Rich.) Hook. f. (Cyperaceae). Holotypus PDD 60751.

The specific epithet refers to the small size of this species, especially the conidia.
This species has the smallest conidia of any known Cryptophiale. The conidiophores and fertile region are also smaller than in most other species. In general morphology and in conidial size it approaches C. minor Farr (1980), but the latter has differently shaped conidia which measure 12-14 (-16) µm long x up to 1.2 µm wide.