Lembosia

Lembosia Lév., Annls Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 3 3: 58 (1845).

Synonyms
Morenoella Speg., Anal. Soc. cient. argent. 19(6): 258 (1885)
Micrographa Müll. Arg., Flora, Jena 73: 194 (1890)
Lembosidium Speg., Boln Acad. nac. Cienc. Córdoba 26(2–4): 342 (1921)
Viegasia Bat., Bol. Secr. Agric. (Pernambuco) 18: 32 (1951)

Micrographomyces Cif. & Tomas., Atti Ist. bot. Univ. Lab. crittog. Pavia, Ser. 5 10(1): 77 (1953)
Heraldoa Bat., Atti Ist. bot. Univ. Lab. crittog. Pavia, Ser. 5 16: 105 (1959)
Lembosiellina Bat. & H. Maia, Atas Inst. Micol. Univ. Recife 1: 323 (1960)
Peresiopsis Bat., Publções Inst. Micol. Recife 291: 23 (1960)
Yamamotoa Bat., Publicações Inst. Micol. Recife 291: 1 (1960)
Trichamelia Bat., in Batista & Garnier, Publicações Inst. Micol. Recife 295: 9 (1960)

Epiphytes on host surface. Superficial hyphae with lateral appressoria. Sexual state: Thyriothecia solitary, scattered, superficial, oval, ellipsoidal, X- or Y-shaped, easily removed from the host surface, black, opening by a linear fissures, with basal peridium poorly developed. Upper wall comprising linear, dark cells, which are branched at the margin. Hamathecium comprising vertical asci inclined upwards, pseudoparaphyses not observed. Asci bitunicate, fissitunicate dehiscence not observed, subglobose to ovoid, apedicellate, apical region of asci usually with a thick opaque region, ocular chamber not observed, not staining blue in IKI. Ascospores overlapping, oblong to obvoid, hyaline to brown, 1-septate. Asexual state: Unknown.

Notes: Lembosia was established by Léveille (1845) with descriptions of L. dendrochili, L. drimydis, L. macula and L. tenella. Hosagoudar (2012) distinguished this genus based on its oval, ellipsoidal, X- or Y-shaped thyriothecia and hyphae with lateral appressoria. Hosagoudar (2012) separate the Lembosiaceae based on these characters and thus exclude Lembosia from Asterinaceae. We do not follow treatment as there are often intermediate forms between Asterina and Lembosia, and consider the presence of appressoria more important. A new collection of this genus also show Lembosia to be a member of Asterinaceae. Thus we place genera with rounded or elongate thyriothecia in Asterinaceae as long as they are biotrophic and penetrate the host with haustoria.

Type species: Lembosia tenella Lév., Annls Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 3 3: 58 (1845).