Representative isolates include EGS 39-085 & 39-086 (ex IMI 330203 & 330204, both originally isolated from Leptinella sp. in New Zealand); 39-101, source of type (C.F. Hill 4252(c), ex Leptinella dioica, coll. July 1989, Papakura, N. Z.); 39-102 (C.F. Hill 4252(d), ex L. dioica, coll. July 1989, Papakura, N. Z.).

Embellisia leptinellae grows well on PCA, Hay decoction, and 20% V-8 agars, sporulating abundantly on simple or sometimes branched conidiophores that arise directly from the substrate or as lateral branches of conspicuous procumbent aerial hyphae; non-sporulating aerial mycelium forms a lanose layer over sporulating colonies on Hay agar, but it typically does not occur in colonies on PCA or V-8 agar. Chains of adjoining cells in submerged mycelium frequently enlarge, become variously septate, proliferate in branches and clumps, darken, and become thick-walled.
Conidiophores may remain simple with an apical clump of conidia, or they may branch and produce additional conidia near the tip of each branch. Primary conidiophores (those arising from vegetative hyphae) usually produce 5-8 successive, geniculate, conidiogenous cells as they lengthen; one or more of the associated 5-8 primary conidia may germinate in place and generate a secondary conidiophore with 3-5 successive, geniculate conidiogenous sites. The maximum conidium production of a primary conidiophore and its 2-3 associated secondary conidiophores after 2-3 weeks is about 25. Ellipsoid juvenile conidia usually become ovoid as they enlarge to about 25-45 x 10-13 µm with 3-7 transverse and 1-4 longitudinal septa; cylindric juveniles tend to become narrowly ellipsoid as they elongate and broaden to about 45-65 x 9-l0 µm with 7-10 transverse and 1-3 longitudinal septa. Mature conidium color in transmitted light is a dilute golden tan crossed by the deeper shades of the same color marking the broad bands of secondary septum wall circumference. Conidium surfaces are smooth or become minutely verruculose.

Ex cultura in agaro V-8 post dies novem descripta. Chlamydosporae abundae, submersae, in catenis ramosis et coacervatis. Conidiophora simplicia vel ramosa, plerumque 4-6-geniculata in locis conidiogenis primaries. Sporulatio primaries abunda; sporulatio secondary abunda in conidiophoris secundariis locis conidiogenis 4-5. Conidia initio ellipsoidea vel cylindrica, dein ovoidea vet longe ellipsoidea, lateraliter symmetrica, dilute fulva, septis fuscatis transversalibus (3-4-)7-10 et longitudinalibus 1-4, 30-65 x 10-13 µm, levia vet minute verruculosa.

Embellisia leptinellae, with its long, narrow conidia and strong tendency to produce abundantly conidiogenous secondary conidiophores, is unlike any other species of the genus except the following E. dennisii.

Habitatio typi Leptinella dioica, Papakura, New Zealand. Typus: partes ex EGS 39-101 (ex isol. C.F. Hill 4252(c), lect. July 1989) desiccatae et in BPI (holotypus) et pro isotypus saltem in IMI, NY et PDD conservandae.

Representative isolates include EGS 39-093 (C.F. Hill 4102B, ex leaf of Leptinella maniototo, coll. June 1989, Auckland, New Zealand); EGS 39-099, source of type (C.F. Hill 4252(a), ex L. dioica, coll. July 1989, Papakura, N.Z.; EGS 39-100 (C.F. Hill 4252(b), ex L. d1oica, coll. July 1989, Papakura, N.Z.).

Embellisia novae-zelandiae grows well on PCA, Hay decoction, and 20% V-8 agars, sporulating copiously on simple multigeniculate conidiophores that arise for the most part directly from the substrate but also, as a culture ages to 2-3 weeks, appearing to a major extent as lateral branches of conspicuous procumbent vegetative hyphae; conspicuous non-sporulating aerial mycelium is lacking in the type isolate. The sorts of swollen or chlamydosporic hyphal elements known for several species of Embellisia have not been seen in 2-3-week-old cultures of E. novae-zelandiae.
Conidiophores usually are unbranched; they bear solitary conidia at each of 5-6 closely geniculate sites at the apex of the conidiophores (increasing to 20-25 after 2-3 weeks). Most of the primary conidia remain solitary, but a few in any sample can be found to have produced a secondary conidiophore with 1-4 conidiogenous sites from the apical conidial cell or lateral to the basal pore. Ovoid juvenile conidia tend to retain an oval shape as they enlarge to about 20-22 x 8-l0 µm with 3-4 transverse and 1-2 longitudinal or oblique septa; cylindric juvenile conidia tend to become ellipsoid as they elongate and broaden to about 28-37 x 10 µm with 5-8 transverse and 3-4 longitudinal or oblique septa. Mature conidium color in transmitted light is a dilute golden tan crossed by deeper shades of the same color in the broad bands of septum circumference that abut the outer wall of the conidium. Conidium walls are essentially smooth.

Ex cultura in agaro V-8 post dies novem descripta. Chlamydosporae non visae. Conidiophora simplicia, plerumque 5-6-geniculata in locis conidiogenis. Sporulatio primaria copiosa; sporulatio secundaria infrequens in conidiophores secundariis locis conidiogenis 1-4. Conidia initio ovoidea vel cylindrica, deinde ovoidea vel ellipsoidea, lateraliter symmetrica, dilute fulva, septis fuscatis transversalibus 3-5(-8) et longitudinalibus aut obliquis 0-4, 18-28(-37) x 7-10 µm, apparenter levia.

When compared with the thirteen Embellisia species treated earlier (Simmons 1983), E. novae-zelandiae has keying characters near E. planifunda (whose conidia are smaller and have fewer septa), E. allii (conidia larger and usually lack longitudinal septa), and E. telluster (conidia commonly laterally asymmetric and usually lack longitudinal septa). At low magnifications (ca. 60X), conidiophores of E. novae-zelandiae are seen to bear tight terminal clusters of 20-40 conidia.

Habitatio typi Leptinella dioica, Papakura, New Zealand. Typus: partes ex EGS 39-099 (ex iso1. C.F. Hill 4252(a), lect. July, 1989) desiccatae et in BPI (holotypus) et pro isotypus saltem in IMI, NY et PDD conservandae.