Type: Sooty Moulds and Similar Fungi; Description: Subiculum superficial, flat to irregularly thickened, olivaceous brown to dark rusty brown; on bark of trunks. Mycelium composed of brown to dark brown, septate, smooth to finely warted, straight or curved, moniliform hyphae up to 33 μm wide, which taper markedly toward their distal ends. Ascomata stromatic, scattered or crowded, partly immersed, brown to dark brown, ellipsoidal, 0.15 mm in diameter, ostiolate, bearing toward the apex simple, brown to dark brown, moniliform, straight, crowded hyphal appendages up to 60 μm long. Asci fasciculate, ellipsoidal to obclavate, 57–72 × 18–22 μm. Ascospores ellipsoidal, 3-septate, 20–25 × 9–10 μm, brown to dark brown. Capnobotrys synanamorph. Conidia ovoid to obovate, 0–6-septate (mostly 2-septate), thick walled, 10–12 × 7–8 μm (0-septate), 16–24 × 13 μm (2-septate) to 50 × 13 μm (6-septate), very coarsely warted, pale brown to dark brown. Capnophialophora synanamorph. Conidia rare, ellipsoidal, 0-septate, 1.5 × 1 μm, hyaline.

Distribution: Coromandel, Waikato, Taupo, Mid Canterbury.; 1st Record: Hughes (1974b: as Capnobotrys dingleyae).

Significance: None.; Host(s): Dacrydium cupressinum, Phyllocladus trichomanoides, Prumnopitys taxifolia.

Habitat in truncis vivis (raro emortuis) Podocarpi spicati, Phyllocladi trichomanoidis, Dacrydii cupressini in Nova Zelandia et Taxi baccatae in Anglia, Hibernia et ? Scotia.

Subiculum variabile, olivaceo-brunneum vel atrobrunneum vel atrum, planum vel plerumque irregulariter incrassatum, 3-20 mm crass., aliquando pustulis hemisphaericis l-5 mm lat., frequenter continuum, diffusum et truncos per pedes paucos tectans. Mycelium superficiale, ex hyphis ramosis, subulatis, septatis, moniliformibus, pallide brunneis vel atro-brunneis, primo verrucosis dein laevibus vel paulo verrucosis, anastomosantibus, cellulis basalibus plerumque latioribus quam longis, ad 27µm lat., cellulis terminalibus angustioribus, 7-9 µm lat., compositum. Conidiophora hyphas simulantia sed apicem versus fertilia, 140-265 µm long. Sympodioconidia 1-4 successive et in Cellula terminalia conidiophorarum et In sympodula producta. Sympodulae 6.3-9.0 µm orientes frequenter unilateraliter in cellulis 1-3 subterminalibus conidiophorarum, sessiles vel 1-3 in stipite breve (a septata vel 1-septata), subglobosae, verrucosae. Sympodioconidia pallide brunnea vel atrobrunnea, verrucosa, ovoidea vel late ellipsoidea vel obclavata, continua vel ad 6-septata, plerumque 2-3-septata, interdum 4-, raro 5- vel 6-septata, ad septas parum vel vix constricta, recta, sicca et facile secedentia. Sympodioconidia 10-11.7 x 7.2-8.0 µm (O-septata), 10.5-20.0 x 8.6-11.0 µm (1-sept.), 16-24(27) x 9.0-12.6 µm (2-sept.), 23.5-33.5 x 10.8-12.6 µm (3-sept.), 30.5-36 x 10.8 12.6 µm (4-sept.), 42-45 x 12.6 µm (duo tantum vidi 5-septata), 50 x ?13 µm (unumtantum vidi 6-septata).
Phialides (status Capnophialophora) apicem versus hypharum, singulares vel 2-4 botryosae, subsphaericae, pallide brunneae vel brunneae, parum asperatae vel verrucosae, 5.0-5.5 µm lat., collum singulum (raro duo) cupulatum vel infundibuliforme, 3.2-3.6 µm lat., 3.6 µm profund., distaliter ferentes. Phialides frequenter in conidiis germinant bus productae. Phialospora aparsa, late ellipsoidea, hyalina, ca. 1.5 x 1.0 µm.
Poroconidia non vidi.

Typus: In truncis vivis Podocarpi spicati. Nova Zelandia, "Banks Peninsula", 13.V.1963, PDB 21096 chaom 106368).

Collections: New Zealand, (1-5) Auckland Province, (1) on Dacrydium cupressinum, Pureora, 21.III.1963, J.M.D., DAOM 96604b; (2,3) Phyllocladus trichomanoides, (2) Orere, 20.11.1963, J.M.D.,DAOM 106379; (3) Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 4.IX.1963, J.M.D., DAOM 106364a; (4-10) Podocarpus spicatus, (4) Auckland Prov., Pureora, 21.III.1963, S.J.H., PDD 20740 (DAOM 106375); (5) Wellington Prov., Tongariro National Park, Erua, 6.III. 1963, S.J.H., DAOM 160053; (6-10) Canterbury Prov., Price's Bush, near Little River, Banks Peninsula, (6) 13.V. 1963, S.J.H., PDD 21096 (DAOM 106368a,b) (type of Capnobotrys dingleyae Hughes and of Metacapnodium dingleyae Hughes); (7) PDD 21095 (DAOM 106376), (8) PDD 21094 (DAOM 106370a); (9) DAOM 106377; (10) DAOM 106378.
England (11) "Chroolepus Arnottii Harv. G.H.K. T[hwaites]. Ashdown Forest. Torula Arnottii Harv. [on bark; scr. Berkeley]", (K); (12) "Antennaria pinophila (unusually luxuriant) on Yew. Coll. J. H. Bloom. Sept. 1927. Mickleham [scr. E. M. Wakefield]. ... In one case the trunk was largely covered for many feet [scr. Bloom]", (K); (13) "Hormiscium pinophilum (Nees ex Fr.) Lindau. Box Hill, Surrey, June 1952. E. M. Wakefield", (K); (14) on stump of Taxus baccata, Alice Holt, Farnham, Surrey, 29.VII.1954, S. Batko, DAOM 44672; (15) on ?Taxus, Ranmore Common, Surrey, 3.X. 1959, B. C. Sutton, DAOM 119938 (IMI 78042); (16) on Taxus. Slindon Woods, Slindon, West Sussex, 31.III. 1967, D.A. & D. G. Reid, (K); (17) on Taxus, Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent, 27.X.1968, D. A. Reid, (K).
Scotland (18) "Chroolepus Arnottii. Kinross-shire, 7th July 1837", "Herb. Leighton", (K); (19) "Chroolepus Arnottii! Dr. W. H. H[arvey]. [scr. Berkeley, with illustrations of hyphae]", (? from Scotland), (K); (20) on Taxus baccata, Inchlonaig, Loch Lomond, Dumbartonshire, 13.X.1975, R. Watling, DAOM 153484.
Ireland (21) "Antennaria, Killarney, Dec. 1. 1860[scr. Berkeley], leg. D. Moore", (K); (22) "Torula-like masses of mycelium on diseased Juniper. Comm. Sir F. Moore. Glasnevin, Sept. 1914", (K); (23) on Taxus baccata, Killarney, comm. 22.IX.1969, J. Rishbeth, DAOM 128907 (IMI 142936).

Subicula olivaceous brown to dark rusty brown to black, superficial, effuse, flat to irregularly thickened, 3-20 mm thick sometimes forming separate pustules 1--5 mm wide and extensive by confluence.
Mycelium composed of brown to dark brown, anastomosing, septate, moniliform hyphae which taper markedly toward their distal end. Hyphae are straight or curved with upwardly curved branches originating at right angles, smooth to finely roughened throughout but distally usually warted to coarsely warted. The cells are about as broad as or broader than long, doliiform and up to 33 µm wide and the younger distal cells as narrow as 7 µm.
Metacapnodium teleomorph. Ascostromata partly immersed, crowded or scattered, brown to dark brown, ellipsoidal, 140-225 µm high, 120-185 µm wide, ostiolate at maturity, bearing toward the apex simple, subulate, moniliform, brown to dark brown, straight, crowded hyphal appendages up to 6-celled and up to 60 µm long. Asci fasciculate, ellipsoidal to obclavate, bitunicate, 8-spored, 57-72 x 18-22 µm. Ascospores irregularly biseriate, ellipsoidal, straight, sometimes inequilateral, brown to dark brown, 3-septate, scarcely constricted at the septa, 20-25(-27) x 9-10(-11) µm, thick-walled, but no paler thinner-walled areas were seen.
Capnobotrys synanamorph. Distinctive conidiophores are lacking: conidiogenous cells are borne in clusters on the ends of usually robust but otherwise undifferentiated hyphae 140-280 µm long and on short solitary or crowded mostly unilateral subterminal branches. Conidiogenous cells occur usually unilaterally on the penultimate cell and on one or two cells below this cell. The terminal cell of such a hypha is also conidiogenous. Conidiogenous cells are subglobose and usually coarsely warted through irregular fragmentation of an outer wall during conidium production. The conidiogenous cell which terminates a hypha may be hemispherical to doliiform, up to 12.5 µm wide and up to 14.5 µm long but lateral conidiogenous cells are shorter and 6.3-8 µm wide: at maturity they bear scars on very short denticles at the distal end after schizolytic conidium secession.
Conidia are blastically produced on successive new growing points: they are dry, ovoid to obcla-vate, 0- to 6-septate, mostly 2-septate, slightly constricted at the septa, thick-walled, very coarsely warted, pale brown to dark brown with the proximal (basal) broader cell bearing a basal circular scar. Conidia measure 10-11.7 x 7.2-8 µm (0-septate), 10.5-20 x 8.6-11 µm (1-septate), 16-24(-27) x 9-12.6 µm (2-septate), 23.5-33.5 x 10.8-12.6 µm (3-septate), 30.5-40 x 10.8-12.6 µm (4-septate), 42-45 x 12.6µm (5-septate), and 50 x 13µm (6-septate).
Capnophialophora synanamorph. Phialides occur singly or in groups of 2 to 4 on the end cells of hyphae or solitarily on Capnobotrys conidia usually on the distal or penultimate cell. They are flask-shaped with a subspherical, pale brown to brown, slightly roughened to warted venter 5-5.5 µm wide and a single cupulate to funnel-shaped collarette up to 3.6 µm long and 1.8-2 µm wide. Some phialides have two collarettes. Occasionally one or two collarettes are borne directly on a cell of a Capnobotrys conidium. Phialoconidia are rare, hyaline, ellipsoidal and c. 1.5 x 1 µm.

On corticated trunks and on exposed wood of gymnosperms.

Subiculum ut in Capnobotrys dingleyae Hughes.
Ascostromata plerumque immersa, congesta vel dispersa, brunnea vel atrobrunnea, ellipsoidea, 140-225 µm alt., 120-185 µm lat., ad maturitatem ostiolata, apicem versus hyphis simplicibus moniliformibus subulatis brunneis vel atrobrunneis ad 6-cellulatis et ad 60 µm long. ornata. Asci fasciculati ellipsoidei vel obclavati, bitunicati, 8-spori, 57-72 x 18-22 µm. Ascosporae irregulariter biseriatae, ellipsoideae, rectae, aliquando inaequilaterales, brunneae vel atrobrunneae, ad septas vix constrictae, transverse 3-septatae, 20-25(-27) x 9-10(-11) µm.
Habitat in truncis vivis (raro emortuis) Podocarpi spicati. Phyllocladi trichomanoidis, Dacrydii cupressini in Nova Zealandia, Taxi baccati et arboris ignotis in Anglia, Hibernia et Scotia et Juniperi in Hibernia.
Synanamorphoses:
Chroolepus arnottii Hooker in Harvey, In Smith, J. E., "English Flora", 5(1): 381. 1833. Mycelium.
Antennaria arnottii (Hooker) Berkeley in Cooke, "British Fresh Water Algae". Vol. 1. Williams and Norgate, London, p. 187. 1882.
Capnobotrys dingleyae Hughes, Mycotaxon 1: 121. 1974.
Capnophialophora Hughes, Mycotaxon 1: 121. 1974.

Unlike many of the Metacapnodiaceae M. dingleyae is somewhat restricted in its host range: it has been found only on members of Coniferales, namely Podocarpus, Dacrydium, and Phyllocladus (Podocarpaceae) in New Zealand and on Taxus (Taxaceae) and Juniperus (Cupressaceae) in the British Isles. It seems unlikely that this apparently restricted antipodal distribution represents the true geographical range.
Capnobotrys dingleyae Hughes and its Capnophialophora synanamorph were described by Hughes (1974b). In one of the 10 collections from New Zealand ascostromata of a Metacapnodium were found and attached to these I observed hyphae bearing Capnobotrys dingleyae and Capnophialophora synanamorphs. Accordingly, the three morphs are included as one species.
''Chroolepus arnottii Hooker" was described in that part of the treatment of Algae ("Div. II Confervoideae") which was prepared by W. H. Harvey (1833) for Hooker's completion of "The English Flora of Sir James Edward Smith ... Class XXIV. Cryptogamia ... Vol. V. Part I".
Chroolepus was divided by Harvey into two tribes, one for species which are "orange red, or yellow, rarely greenish. (Amphiconium, Spr.)" and one for species which are "black, torulose; bearing clavate bodies resembling sporidia. (Helmisporium?)". Chroolepus arnottii was included in the second tribe and described as follows: "C. arnottii, Hook. (Mr. Arnott's Chroolepus); filaments very short heaped together fragile moniliform slightly branched, branches simple subulate spine-like divaricate, articulations rather shorter than broad, joints contracted. On Yews [Taxus}, at Cleish Castle, Kinross-shire, Mr. Arnott.--This singular plant resembles none other that I know. It is found only on Yew-trees ... I may add, that when well dried, this species takes fire very readily from a spark, and burns like tinder! Arn. in litt."
Collection No. 19 above, labelled "Chroolepus Arnottii! Dr. W. H. H[arvey]." by Berkeley may well be a part of the type collection. Hooker described the hyphal branches as subulate with the cells (articulations) rather shorter than broad and constricted at the septa: these are distinctive features of metacapnodiaceous hyphae. Metacapnodium dingleyae is apparently the only comparatively large and extensive sooty mould found on Taxus in the British Isles. For the foregoing reasons Chroolepus arnottii is considered to be based on the mycelium of Metacapnodium dingleyae.
On being exposed momentarily to a flame the compact subiculum of M. dingleyae (DAOM 44672, pro parte minima!) ignited instantly and glowed until it was reduced to a grey ash. Parts of this collection were also successfully ignited with sparks from a cigarette lighter, but not "readily" as described by Mr Arnott.
The Capnobotrys synanamorph of Metacapnodium dingleyae is clearly distinguishable from others by the variable septation of its conidia.

Holotypus: in truncis vivis Podocarpi spicati. Nova Zealandia, "Banks Peninsula", 13.V.1963, S. J. Hughes, PDD 21096 (DAOM 106368b).