Asterina phoebesicola (Syd.) Hongsanan & KD Hyde, nom. nov. Index Fungorum: IF550713.
≡ Aphanopeltis phoebes Syd., Annls mycol. 25(1/2): 82 (1927)
Type: W 07752

Epiphytes on the upper surface of the leaves, forming blackened circular areas, 2–3 mm diam. Superficial hyphae spreading over the host surface. Appressoria 10–15μm, arrow-like, lateral and alternative, sparse and light brown. Sexual state: Thyriothecia 160–199μm diam, solitary or gregarious, superficial, circular, black, easily removed from host surface, with star-like opening, fissure at the centre, with a poorly developed basal layer. Upper wall comprising rows of neatly arranged, parallel, radiating cells, which may be branched at the outer rim, from which hyphae strands develop. Hamathecium lacking pseudoparaphyses. Asci 44–50×35–39μm (x = 47× 38μm, n=5), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate dehiscence not observed, globose to subglobose, lacking a pedicel, apical region of asci usually with a thick opaque region, ocular chamber not observed, not staining blue in IKI. Ascospores 16–19×6–9μm (x = 17×8μm, n=5), overlapping 2–3-seriate, conglobate, hyaline, 1-septate, strongly constricted at the septum, upper cell slightly larger than lower cell. Asexual state: “Elachopeltis-like”see notes.

Material examined: COSTA RICA, Piedades de San Ramon, on Phoebes costaricanae Mez et Pitt. (Lauraceae), 26 January 1925, (W 07752, holotype).

Notes: Aphonopeltis phoebes is synonymized under Asterina. As Asterina phoebes is already in use we provide a
new name A. phoebesicola. Elachopeltis phoebes was described on the same host in association with Asterina phoebesicola and may be a synonym. This taxon has similar pycnothyria with a central ostiole as in A. phoebesicola, however, they produce fusiform, hyaline conidia from the upper wall (Sydow 1927).

Fig. 1 Asterina phoebes (holotype). a, b Appearance of colony and thyriothecia on the host surface. c, d Squash mount of thyriothecia. e Appressoria. f, g Asci with ascospores in Melzer’s reagent. Scale bars: b=500μm, c, d=100μm, e=50μm, f, g=20μm