Patellaria microspora Ekanayaka & K.D. Hyde, sp. nov.

MycoBank number: MB 557819;Index Fungorum number: IF 557819; Facesoffungi number: FoF 08125; Fig. 65

Etymology: The specific epithet microspora refers small ascospores.

Holotype: MFLU 16-0567.

Saprobic on dead stems. Sexual morph: Apothecia 396–402 × 165–170 µm ( x̄ = 395.4 × 167.9 µm, n = 10) arising singly or in small groups, sessile, erumpent from the substrate, black when fresh. Receptacle turbinate, disc slightly convex, disc and the margins are black when fresh. Ectal excipulum 15–21 µm (x̄ = 16.7 µm, n = 10) a narrow layer, 3–4 cells deep, thick, black colour cells of subglobose to subangularis. Medullary excipulum 22–30 µm ( x̄ = 27.1 µm, n = 10) composed of narrow, long, thin-walled, hyaline to brownish cells of textura porrecta. Hymenium brownish. Hamathecium 1.3 – 1.8 µm wide ( x̄ = 1.5 µm, n = 20), numerous, filiform towards the apex, branched, septate, paraphyses. Asci 27–38 × 6.2–7.0 µm ( x̄ = 30.6 × 6.8 µm, n = 30), 8-spored, short to medium pedicellate, cylindric to clavate, rounded at the apex, asci become orange to brown with the presence of Meltzer’s reagent, croziers absent at the base of asci. Ascospores 19.2–20.3 × 8.7–9.5 µm ( x̄ = 19.88 × 9.21 µm, n = 40), partially bi-seriate, lower spores are uni-seriate, hyaline, smooth-walled, ellipsoid, regularly eight septate, distinctly more tapered towards the distal end. Asexual morph: Undetermined.

Material examined: UK, Lulworth Cove, Dorset, 5 February 2015, E. B. G. Jones, GJ95082 (MFLU 16-0567,holotype).

GenBank number: ITS: MW136696, LSU: MW142388.

Note: Patellaria microspora is phylogenetically related to P. atrata. However, P. atrata has larger ascospores (Yacharoen et al. 2015).

Fig. 65 Patellaria microspora (MFLU 16-0567, holotype). a Substrate. b Apothecia on wood. c Apothecium on wood. d Cross section of an apothecium. e Vertical section of the apothecium at margin. f Ectal excipular hypha. g–i Cylindrical asci. j Reaction of the ascus in the Meltzer’s reagent. k Septate and branched paraphyses. l Germinated spore. m–p clavate ascospores. Scale bars: b = 500 µm, c = 200 µm, d = 100 µm, e, i, j = 50 µm, f = 40 µm, g, h, l = 30 µm, k, m–p = 20 µm