COMMENTS: Niptera purpurascens is characterized by large asci, long, multiseptate, thick-walled ascospores, and unique purple reaction of the ascospores in Melzer’s reagent. No species of Niptera are known to have multiseptate ascospores of this length which turn purple in Melzer’s reagent. Niptera excelsior (P. Karst.) Dennis has similarities to the current specimens in having 3-septate, elongate ascospores. However, the asci (up to 130 × 10 µm) and ascospores (50–80 × 3–4 µm) are smaller, and no indication of an amyloid reaction was noted (Dennis, 1972, 1981). The current species is placed in Niptera based primarily on the elongate, multiseptate ascospores and the ectal excipular morphology.