ADDITIONAL SPECIMEMS EXAMINED: 6 collections were examined in addition to the holotype. All were from New Zealand, and included: AUCKLAND: Waitakere Ra., Walkers Bush, on Cordyline australis, P.R. Johnston, 2 Nov 1981 (PDD 41852). NORTHLAND: Waipoua State forest, vic. Forest HQ, on Freycinetia baueriana Endlicher ssp. banksii (A. Cunn.) B.C. Stone, P.R. Johnston, G.J. Samuels, 29 May 1982 (PDD 42786).

Ascocarps deeply immersed, urceolate, round, 0.3-0.5 mm diam., crystalline margin entire or lacerate, opening widely. Margin in cross-section 95-160 µm wide. Crystals forming a 70-80 µm wide, wedge-shaped layer in top half of margin. Wall 30-70 µm wide, extending from host surface and under subhymenium, comprising hyaline, 1.5-3 µm diam. hyphae. Periphyses 30-60 x 2-3 µm, not branching, forming a well developed layer. Paraphyses 1.5-2 µm diam., circinate, occasionally branching, nonamyloid. Asci 185-390 x 4-6 µm, cap 3-5 µm thick, 8-spored. Spores filiform, 200-345 x 2-2.5 µm, cells 4-6.5 µm long.
Anamorph in vivo: Has not been found.
Characteristics in culture: Ascospores germinating on agar plates within 48 h., forming colonies on OA and ME 3-4 cm diam. after 6-8 weeks. Aerial mycelium short, felted, white, colony surface uneven, lumpy, not discoloured, or becoming coloured vinaceous-brown. Pycnidia scattered in small groups on agar surface, globose, 300-500 µm diam., opening widely by an irregular split in the wall, with conidia oozing out in a creamy-yellow coloured mass. Pycnidial walls 40-50 µm wide, comprising hyaline, gelatinised hyphae, 2-3 µm diam. Conidiophores arising from inner wall layers, cylindric, 5-8 x 2-3 µm, not branching, with 2-4 conidiogenous cells held at the tips. Conidiogenous cells cylindric to flask shaped, 4-7 x 2-2.5 µm, hyaline, with a small collarette. Conidia apparently forming holoblastically, following a short, apical proliferation of the conidiogenous cell. Conidia filiform, not tapering, 85-108 x 2-2.5 µm, 15-19 transverse septa, sometimes slightly constricted at septa, not disarticulating, apex rounded, base truncate, hyaline. A microconidial state has also been found in culture. It forms globose pycnidia, 200-300 µm diam., opening by an irregular split in wall. Walls 20-25 µm thick, of hyaline hyphae. Conidiogenous cells arising from inner wall layers, hyaline, cylindric, 7.5-14 x 1.5-2.8 µm, phialidic with a thickened collarette, rarely showing percurrent proliferations. Conidia oblong-elliptic, hyaline, nonseptate, 2.8-3.5 x 1-1.5 µm.

Habitat: Dead leaves of large, fleshy-leafed monocotyledons.

Ascocarpi immersi, profunde cupulati, 0.3-0.5 mm diam., margine integro vel lacerato, albo, in sectione transversali 95-160 µm crasso. Stratum crystallinum 70-80 µm crassum. Stratum parietis 30-70 µm crassum, hypharis 1.5-3 µm diam., achromis. Periphysoidea 30-60 x 2-3 µm, non ramosa. Paraphyses filiformes, circinatae, in iodo non caerulescentes. Asci 185-390 x 4-6 µm, apice 3-5 µm crassi, 8-spori. Sporae 200-345 x 2-2.5 µm, cellulis 4-6.5 µm longis.
Holotypus: PDD 41849 ex Cordyline australis (Forst. f.) Endl.

Notes: The hymenium of S. lata is similar in appearance and dimension to that of S. ramuligera, and a cross-section of the ascocarp is required to separate the 2 species. S. lata has a wide, fleshly wall, completely surrounding the ascocarp, whereas S. ramuligera has a narrower wall, only at the sides of the ascocarp. The hymenium of S. lata is also similar to that of S. prominens. S. prominens has a much larger ascocarp, has a less extensive wall layer, and is found on wood.
Etymology: lata = wide; refers to wide wall of ascocarp.

Holotype: New Zealand: AUCKLAND: Waitakere Ra., Kakamatua Stream, on Cordyline australis, P. R. Johnston, 12 Nov 1980 (PDD 41849).