Apothecia developing within leaf tomentum on undersides of living leaves of Olearia species (Asteraceae). Apothecia 0.1-0.15 mm diam., 0.2 mm high, black with numerous stiff, black setae, urn-shaped, tapering suddenly to a short, stipe-like base. Setae near top of apothecium extending outwards across top of leaf tomentum.

Ectal excipulum 2-layered. Inner layer 6-10 µm wide, in vertical section comprising 2 or 3 rows of brick-shaped cells 4.5-6 µm diam., with thin, brown walls. Outer layer patchy in development, comprising a single layer of cylindric cells 2.5-3 µm diam., with pale brown, irregularly encrusted walls, and with setae arising from these cells. Setae mostly near top of apothecium, 60-80 x 5-6.5 µm, often distinctively sickle-shaped, with very dark, thick walls, probably 0-septate. Seta-like or hair-like elements at sides and near base of apothecium, 12-20 x 2-3 µm, irregularly cylindric, with brown, slightly thickened walls, usually 2 or 3-septate. Medullary excipulum poorly developed, comprising 2 or 3 rows of hyaline, narrow-cylindric cells.

Paraphyses 2-2.5 µm diam., undifferentiated to slightly swollen near apex, about same length as the asci. Asci 55-70 x 6.5-7.5 µm, cylindric, tapering to slightly truncate apex, wall thickened at apex, non-amyloid, 8-spored. Ascospores 6.5-8 x 3-4 µm, broadly rounded at both ends, subclavate, slightly wider in upper half, hyaline, 0-septate.

Cultures approximately 50 mm diam. after 4 weeks. On OA with low, dense, felted, pale pinkish-grey mycelium; yellowish in reverse. On MEA with dense, cottony, white to pale grey mycelium; grey brown in reverse. Cultures remained sterile.

NOTES: Together with the unusual host substrate, ascospore size and shape differentiate C. falcata from the species treated by Nannfeldt (1985). Although most of these were also found on Asteraceae, all developed on dead leaf and stem tissue rather than the tomentum of living leaves. The asci of P. falcata appear to mature and discharge their spores while the leaves of the host plant are still alive, since all apothecia examined from fallen leaves were over-mature.

Several other species of Leotiales are associated with the leaf tomentum of Asteraceae in New Zealand. Johnston (1989) described three Crocicreas species and recorded C. epitephrum (Berk.) S.E. Carp., first described from Australia, from the leaf tomentum of various species. Another Australian species, Lachnum willisii (G.W. Beaton) Spooner, described from the leaf tomentum of Celmisia asteliifolia from Australia, also occurs on the tomentum of living leaves of Celmisia in New Zealand (MID CANTERBURY: Craigieburn Forest Park, near skifield, on Celmisia discolor, P.R. Johnston & E.H.C. McKenzie, 24 Feb 1988 (PDD 48634); Craigieburn Forest Park, near skifield, on Celmisia angustifolia, P.R. Johnston & E.H.C. McKenzie, 24 Feb 1988 (PDD 48458). NORTH CANTERBURY: Arthurs Pass National Park, Nature Trail near Temple Basin, on Celmisia discolor var. intermedia, P.R. Johnston & E.H.C. McKenzie, 25 Feb 1988 (PDD 48461). WELLINGTON: Tararua Ranges, vic. Dundas Hut, Pukemoremore summit, on Celmisia sp., P.R. Johnston, 10 Feb 1985 (PDD 49055)), and there remain many other undescribed leotiaceous species on this substrate in New Zealand (P.R. Johnston, unpubl. data).

Apothecia developing on fallen leaves of Pseudopanax crassifolius (Araliaceae). Apothecia 0.4-0.7 mm diam., about 0.5 mm high, urceolate with short, narrow stipe. Receptacle translucent whitish or yellowish beneath dense covering of stiff, black, appressed setae, setae most numerous around margins of ascoma; hymenium white.

Ectal excipulum up to 20 µm wide at sides of receptacle in vertical section, comprising rows of globose to angular cells 6-10 µm diam., with thin, brown walls. Cells becoming brick-shaped to rectangular near margin of ascoma, and ending in more or less free, hair-like elements. Setae arising directly from excipular cells, 50-70 x 5.5-7.5 µm, fusoid, tapering to more or less acute apex, more or less straight, 1-3-septate, with walls very dark and very thick, and septa often difficult to see. Medullary excipulum up to 10 µm wide, of 3 or 4 layers of narrow-cylindric cells 2.5-3 µm diam., with hyaline walls, thin-walled at sides of receptacle, the walls thicker and possibly gelatinised in stipe, these thicker-walled cells dextrinoid in Meltzer's reagent. Ends of medullary elements more or less free and inward projecting in portion of apothecial wall extending above hymenium.

Paraphyses 1.5 µm diam., expanding slightly to 2.5-3 µm diam. at subclavate apex, about same length as the asci. Asci 45-55 x 6.5-7 µm, cylindric to subclavate, apex rounded, wall thickened at apex with small, intense amyloid ring, 8-spored. Ascospores 7-9 x 2-2.5 µm, oblong-elliptic to elliptic, slightly wider in upper half, 0-septate, hyaline.

NOTES: P. horoeka is distinguished from the other New Zealand species by the shape and size of the setae and the ascospores, as well as host substrate.

Apothecia develop in clusters of 4-10, erumpent from dead leaf tissue of Phormium tenax (Phormiaceae). Individual apothecia separate within the clusters, 0.1-0.2 mm diam., cupulate, sessile, densely clothed with short, black setae; hymenium greyish.

Ectal excipulum 25-30 µm wide in vertical section, comprising several layers of angular to globose cells 5-8 µm diam., with thick walls, mostly hyaline, but outermost 2 or 3 layers of cells with walls pale brown, and with scattered cells with dark brown walls. Excipular cells becoming cylindric near margin of disc, 3-4 µm diam., with ends more or less free and hair-like. Setae arising directly from excipular cells, some from surface of receptacle, others with rooting bases from within the excipulum, and also mixed amongst hair-like cells at margin. Setae 35-65 x 6-8 µm, fusoid, tapering to more or less acute apex, 3 or 4-septate, wall very dark and somewhat thickened, and septa often difficult to see. Hair-like elements also arising from margins of receptacle, 20-30 x 4-5 µm, 2 or 3-septate, with thin, pale brown walls. Medullary excipulum very poorly developed, comprising 3 or 4 rows of long-cylindric cells 2.5-3 µm diam., with thin, hyaline walls.

Paraphyses 2 µm diam., undifferentiated at apex, about same length as the asci. Asci 55-70 x 10-11 µm, cylindric, apex rounded, wall thickened at apex, with small amyloid ring, 8-spored, the spores confined to upper half of ascus. Ascospores 9.5-12 x 4-4.5 µm, elliptic, in side view slightly flattened on one side, hyaline, 0-septate.

Cultures 40-60 mm diam. after 4 weeks, on both OA and MEA thin colonies with little or no aerial mycelium, olivaceous-grey pigment in reverse on MEA. Cultures remained sterile.

NOTES: The excipular structure of P. manihapua is similar to that described for P. senecionis by Nannfeldt (1985). In addition to the very dark-walled setae both species have numerous paler, thin-walled hair-like elements arising from the excipulum. The New Zealand species is distinguished by its larger ascospores, and by developing in clusters of up to 10 apothecia.

P. manihapua differs from the other New Zealand species in the excipular cells being mostly hyaline to pale brown. Although this is typical for most species in the genus (Nannfeldt 1985), the other New Zealand species have excipular cells with uniformly darkened walls.

Apothecia developing on partly decomposed, fallen fronds of Rhopalostylis sapida (Arecaceae). Apothecia 0.5-0.8 mm diam., cup-shaped, more or less urceolate when immature and when dried, substipitate, the receptacle pale brown to brown, with numerous black, stiff setae. Hymenium white when fresh, drying pale yellow.

Ectal excipulum 30-40 µm thick on sides of receptacle in vertical section, comprising 3 or 4 rows of globose cells 8-15 µm diam., with thin, brown walls. Excipular cells at margin of disc extend into hair-like elements 2-4 µm diam., with thin, brown to pale brown walls. Setae arising from cells of excipulum on sides of receptacle, and from amongst hair-like elements at margin of disc. Setae (80-)100-200 x 5-6 µm, with thick, dark brown, smooth walls, cylindric, tapering near apex to more or less acute tip, 3 or 4-septate, although septa often difficult to see. Medullary excipulum 15-20 µm wide at sides of receptacle, comprising cylindric cells 2-4 µm diam., with hyaline, thickened, slightly gelatinised walls. Medullary cells more or less parallel at sides of receptacle, forming textura intricata near base of receptacle and within stipe. Medullary layer dextrinoid in Melter's reagent.

Paraphyses 2 µm diam., cylindric, undifferentiated at apex, about same length as the asci. Asci 55-70(-75) x 6-7 µm, more or less cylindric, apex rounded to subtruncate, wall thickened at apex with small, intensely amyloid ring, 8-spored. Ascospores 8.5-9.5 x 2.5-3 µm, oblong, straight, ends rounded, 0-septate, hyaline.

Cultures approximately 70 mm diam. after 4 weeks on both OA and CMD. Growth thin, with sparse, cottony, white aerial mycelium. Irregular patches of purplish pigment evident in some cultures on OA. Cultures remained sterile.

NOTES: P. palmicola is morphologically similar to P. horoeka, but is distinguished by its very long, more or less straight setae as well as by host substrate. Although known from relatively few collections, this fungus appears to be common on fallen fronds of Rhopalostylis and probably occurs throughout the range of its host.