Graphyllium chloes Clem. [as ‘chloës’], Bot. Surv. Nebraska 5: 6 (1901)

Index Fungorum Number: IF 627539; MycoBank Number: MB 215195; Facesoffungi number: FoF 11446

               = Pleospora chloes (Clem.) Petr., Sydowia 6(5-6): 337 (1952)

Sexual morph: Ascomata 210-330 µm long x 40-80 µm wide, a hysterothecium, in linear rows on woody stems, semi-immersed, elongate, black, coriaceous, glabrous, with a central long ostiole 100-190 µm long x 10-20 µm wide µm (Figs 3A-C). In vertical section 70-124 µm high x 64-110 µm diameter (mean = 95.2 x 93 µm, n = 10), subglobose to ovoid (Figs 3D-E). Peridium 14-25 µm wide, comprising 2-3 layers of brown, relatively thick-walled cells of textura angularis, inner cells flattened, thin-walled and lighter (Fig. 3F). Asci 70-82 x 22-29 µm (mean = 55 x 19 µm, n = 10), 8-spored, bitunicate, clavate to cylindrical, short-stalked, in a basal cluster (Figs 3G-I, K). Ascospores 18-22 x 7-10 µm (mean = 19.4 x 8.4, n = 20), biseriate to overlapping triseriate, muriform, constricted at the septa, applanate, obpyriform, straight, with 3(-4) transverse septa, (0)1-2 longitudinal septa, brown to dark brown when mature (Figs 3J-K). (Refer Zhang et al. 2011).

Material examined – USA, Nebraska, Brown County, Long Pine, on the woody stem of Aristida longiseta, 3 January 1901, J.M. Bates (NEB 158190, lectotype designated here); ibid., on dead stems of Bouteloua oligostachya, J.M. Bates (NEB 158189, syntype).

Note – The genus Graphyllium was placed in the family Hysteriaceae because of its hysterothecia with a slit-like opening, which differs from Diademaceae characterized by an asoma opening by a flat circular lid (Shoemaker & Babcock, 1992). When described, this species was introduced by two hosts, and the type material is in two packets from two hosts. We, therefore, choose one as the lectotype and the other as the syntype. (Refer Zhang et al. 2011).

Figure 1 – Graphylliurn chloes (NEB 158190, lectotype). A. Ascomata on stems. B. Ascomata in rows with a central slit. C. Side elevation of ascomata. D, E. Vertical section of ascomata, note the slit. F. 2-3 layers peridum. G, H, I. Mature and immature asci; asci are 8-spored with biseriate to overlapping triseriate ascospores. J, K. Immature and mature muriform ascospores, distinctly constricted at the septa. Scale bars: B, C = 200 µm, D = 50 µm, E = 40 µm. F, G, H, I, J, K = 20 µm.