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.