Johnston, P.R. 1988: A new species of Meloderma (Rhytismataceae), with notes on Meloderma and related genera. Mycotaxon 33: 423-436.
Details
Associations
Descriptions
Ascocarps subcuticular. In vertical section upper wall up to 100 µm wide near ascocarp opening, narrower toward outer edge. Upper wall comprising 2 layers, an outer layer of dark brown, thick-walled, angular cells, and an inner layer of hyaline, thin-walled, downward-projecting, cylindric cells. The cells in part of the inner layer near the ascocarp opening becoming dark brown and thick-walled as the ascocarp matures. Exposed face of broken upper wall lined with layer of short-cylindric, hyaline to pale brown cells. Lower wall 10-15 µm wide, of 2-3 layers of brown to dark brown, thick-walled cells.
Paraphyses 1.5-2 µm diam., often circinate near apex, extending 10-15 µm beyond asci. Asci 95-125 x 9-12.5 µm, clavate, tapering gradually to base, and tapering to small, truncate apex, 8-spored. Ascospores 19-25 x 3.5-4 mm, narrowly obovoid, tapering toward base, ends rounded, 0 septate, surrounded by a well-developed gelatinous sheath.
Pycnidia in vertical section subcuticular, upper wall 5 µm wide, comprising very dark tissue with no obvious cellular structure. Lower wall 10-15 µm wide, comprising dark brown, thick-walled, angular cells lined with conidiogenous layer. Conidiogenous cells 15-22 x 2-3 µm, tapering to apex, solitary, with sympodial proliferation, often with 2 conidia held at apex. Conidia 3.5-5 x 1-1.5 µm, cylindric with rounded ends, 0 septate. Amongst conidiogenous cells are filiform sterile elements up to 45 µm long.
CHARACTERISTICS IN CULTURE: Ascospores germinating on agar plates within 48 hours. On oatmeal agar colonies 4.5 mm diam. after 6 weeks; aerial mycelium low, sparse, cottony, white. agar surface with pinkish, vinaceous, or yellowish colours toward centre of colony. Black-walled, globose pycnidia on agar surface, opening by an irregular slit to expose conidial ooze, conidiogenous cells and conidia as described in vivo.
ETYMOLOGY: dracophylli; refers to host substrate.
NOTES: M. dracophylli is macroscopically indistinguishable from the Australian species M. richeae. However, M. richeae has shorter, 4-spored asci, and larger, often 1-septate ascospores.