Notes: Microdochium novae-zelandiae is known from two isolates, both of which were collected in New Zealand from different hosts belonging to the families Pinaceae and Poaceae. Based on a four-gene analysis, the new species was placed in a clade distinct from M. bolleyi, M. colombiense, M. majus and M. nivale. Morphologically, M. novae-zelandiae has conidia similar in size to M. bolleyi and M. colombiense. However, subtle morphological differences exist in the conidial shapes of these taxa with M. novae-zelandiae having sigmoidal conidia. Compared with M. phragmitis, conidia of M. novae-zelandiae are smaller, mainly aseptate with variable shape [5.5–10 × 2–2.5 μm, 0(–1)-septate, fusiform, allantoid, lunate or slightly sigmoid in M. novae-zelandiae vs. 10–14.5 × 2–3 μm, 0–1-sepate, fusiform to navicular in M. phragmitis].

Mycelium superficial and immersed, composed of septate, branched, hyaline, smooth, 1–2.5 wide hyphae. Conidiomata sporodochium-like, formed in aerial mycelium or on agar surface, hyaline to pink. Conidiophores often reduced to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells 4–10 × 2–3 μm, integrated, terminal, polyblastic, proliferation sympodial, cylindrical to lageniform, hyaline, smooth; sometimes conidia formed directly on mycelium. Conidia 5.5–10 × 2–2.5 μm, solitary, fusoid, allantoid, lunate or slightly sigmoid, straight or curved, hyaline, smooth, 0(–1)-septate, base truncate. Chlamydospores not observed.