Neostictis nigricans Ekanayaka, Phukhams., Camporesi & K.D. Hyde, sp. nov.
MycoBank number: MB 557308; Index Fungorum number: IF 557308; Facesoffungi number: FoF 07339, Fig. 92.
Etymology: The epithet refers to the apothecial morphology. The disc and the margins of the apothecium is black.
Holotype: MFLU 17–1540
Saprobic on dead stem of Clematis vitalba. Sexual morph: Apothecia 0.4–1 mm wide, arising singly or in small groups, sessile, immersed in substrate, under the clypeus, cupulate. Hypothecium convex. Disc blackish. Margins blackish. Hymenium hyaline, enclosed in a thick gelatinous matrix. Excipulum 25–35 µm wide, composed of multi-layer cells of textura intricata. Paraphyses 1.3–2 µm wide at the apex, numerous, filiform, aseptate, unbranched. Asci 80–100 × 8–12 µm, 8-spored, short sessile, broad cylindrical to oblong, rounded at the apex. Ascospores 35–50 × 2.5–3.5 µm, fasciculate, weakly spiral, thread-like, filiform, ends rounded, multi-septate, approximately 32-transversely euseptate, hyaline, sometimes breaking into small fragments. Asexual morph: Undetermined.
Material examined: Italy, Forlì-Cesena Province, Fiumicello di Premilcuore, Bouchout Domain, dead aerial branch of Clematis vitalba, 18 January 2014, E. Camporesi, IT1655 (MFLU 17–1540, holotype); ibid., 10 October 2013 (MFLU 16–0483 = MFLU 16–0595).
Host: Clematis vitalba (This study).
Distribution: Italy (This study).
GenBank accession numbers: LSU: MT214610; SSU: MT226721; ITS: MT310654; tef1: MT394666.
Notes: See note under Neostictis.
Fig. 92 Neostictis nigricans (MFLU 17–1540, holotype). a Appearance of apothecia on Clematis vitalba. b, c Close up of apothecia on substrate. d Vertical section of an apothecia. e Vertical section of the peridium. f Aseptate paraphyses. g–j Asci. k, l Needle- like ascospores. m Ascospores released from an ascus. n Secondary ascospores. Scale bars: b = 500 µm, c = 200 µm, d = 300 µm, e = 100 µm, f–j = 30 µm, k–n = 20 µm