Lophodermium mahuianum P.R. Johnst. 1989
Details
Nomenclature
Classification
Associations
Descriptions
Lophodermium mahuianum P.R. Johnst. 1989
Ascocarps in vertical section subcuticular. Upper wall up to 150 µm wide near ascocarp opening, narrower toward outside edge of ascocarp, comprising brown to pale brown, thin to slightly thick-walled cells. Exposed face of broken upper wall lined with hyaline to brown, cylindric cells. Immediately prior to ascocarp opening a 15-20 µm wide layer of hyaline, vertically orientated cells develops near the centre of the ascocarp between the upper wall and the cuticle of the host. As ascocarps mature the cells in this layer become brown. Lower wall 25-50 µm wide, outer 1-2 rows of cells dark brown, thick-walled, inner rows of cells paler and with thinner walls.
Paraphyses 1.5-2 µm diam., circinate at apex, extending 15-25 µm beyond asci. Asci 130-175 x 9-12 µm, clavate, tapering to small, truncate apex, wall not thickened at apex, 8-spored, spores held in top third of ascus. Ascospores 35-60 x 2-2.5 µm, 0-1 septate, tapering to base, well developed gelatinous sheath.
ETYMOLOGY: mahuianum; refers to type locality.
NOTES: This species is macroscopically distinctive because of its broad, often irregularly-shaped ascocarps. The ascospores are short relative to ascus length, and the ascocarp margin is distinctive when seen in vertical section. The collections on Podocarpus nivalis (PDD 48451, 48452) have shorter ascospores (23-32 µm) than those on other hosts, but in all other respects they are indistinguishable.