Ascocarps in vertical section subcuticular. Upper wall 20-25 µm wide near outside edge of ascocarp, 70-80 µm near ascocarp opening, comprising mostly very dark tissue with no obvious cellular structure. Cylindric, 30-45 µm long, thin-walled, hyaline to dark brown cells developing across exposed face of broken upper wall. In immature ascocarps near centre of upper ascocarp wall a zone of hyaline, thin-walled cells extends from the inside edge of the wall to almost reach the outside edge.

Paraphyses 1-1.5 µm diam., undifferentiated or circinate at apex, extending 10-15 µm beyond asci. Asci 120-170 x 8-11.5 µm, subclavate, tapering to either narrow or broadly truncate apex, 8-spored. Ascospores 60-110 x (1.5-)2-2.5 µm, 1-septate, narrow gelatinous sheath, often bent or coiling on release. In vertical section pycnidial-like structures subcuticular. Upper wall 5 µm wide, very dark, lower wall of 2-3 layers of thick-walled, brown cells.

No conidiogenous cells or conidia seen.

NOTES: Lophodermium richeae was described from Richea in Australia by Petrak (1954). From the description it appears to be very similar to the New Zealand collections on Dracophyllum. The shape and size of the ascocarps, the appearance of the ascocarps in vertical section, and the dimensions of the asci and ascospores all agree. Unfortunately the type specimen has not been located.

L. cf. richeae in New Zealand can often be distinguished macroscopically by the presence of yellow, crystal-like deposits on its ascocarp walls, however these are not always present. There is a second Lophodermium species, often found in association with L. cf. richeae, which also has dark brown cells lining the ascocarp opening. This second species, L. atrum, differs in having black pycnidia, asci which are narrower and rounded rather than truncate at the apex, and narrower ascospores.

Minter & Hettige (1983) reported an immature rhytismataceous species in association with Meloderma richeae (Petrak) Parbery & Minter, and they speculated that this fungus may represent L. richeae. However, the macroscopic appearance of the immature ascocarps, and the characteristics of the upper ascocarp wall in vertical section, as illustrated by Minter & Hettige (1983), indicate that it is more similar to the New Zealand species L. brunneolum, L. nigrofactum, and L. tindalii, than it is to L. richeae.

See also notes under L. croesicum.