Aurapex penicillata Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf., in Gryzenhout et al., Mycologia 98(1): 112 (2006c).
Pathogenic forming cankers. Sexual morph: Undetermined. Asexual morph: Conidiomata 150–450 × 300–700 μm (x̅ = 436 × 394 μm, n = 10), solitary or aggregated, eustromatic, superficial to slightly immersed, with globose to pyriform bases and attenuated or cylindrical necks, bases fuscous-black with tips of necks orange, unilocular or multilocular, locules opening through 1–3 necks, each either connected to a single locule or to more than one locule, peridium at base comprises thick-walled cells of textura globulosa, umber to sienna at edge, cells around the locules sienna to hazel, larger and more elongated, and almost white prosenchymatous tissue occurring between the edge and the locule. Necks 300–800 × 100–225 μm (x̅ = 400 × 150 μm, n = 20), internally covered by hyaline periphyses, tissue consisting of hazel, doublewalled, square cells at the edge, with cells lining the ostiole thinner and those at the center of textura porrecta tissue, tip of necks of textura epidermoidea, containing orange crystals. Conidiophores 7.5–13.5 × 1–1.5 μm, cylindrical or flask-shaped with attenuated apices, occasionally with separating septa and branching, hyaline. Conidiogenous cells 8–12 × 1–2 μm (x̅ = 13 × 1.4 μm, n = 20), phialidic, determinate, apical or lateral on branches, collaret and periclinal thickening inconspicuous. Conidia 3–4 × 1–1.5 μm (x̅ = 3 × 1.5 μm, n = 20), obtuse, aseptate, hyaline, exuded as scarlet spore droplets (description based on Gryzenhout et al. 2006c).
Material examined: COLOMBIA, Risaralda, Pereira, Libano farm, 75º35’49”W and 4º43’13″N, bark of Miconia theaezans (Bonpl.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae), September 2002, C.A. Rodas, PREM 57520, holotype.
Notes: Aurapex was introduced by Gryzenhout et al. (2006c) based on phylogeny and morphology of stromatic tissues and asexual morphic characters. Members of this genus are distinguished from other genera of Cryphonectriaceae in having orange conidiomatal necks with black bases and a unique internal stromatal structure. Species of Aurapex are serious canker causing pathogens of Eucalyptus species. No known sexual morph reported for this genus.
Fig. Aurapex penicillata (PREM 57520). a Packet of herbarium. b Herbarium specimen. c, d Conidiomata on substrate. e Vertical cross section of conidiomata. f Stromatic tissues turns purple in KOH. g–i Conidiogenous cells and conidia. j Conidia. Scale bars: c, d = 200 μm, e, f = 100 μm, g–j = 5 μm.
