Melaspileella proximella
Melaspileella proximella (Nyl.) Ertz & Diederich, Fungal Diversity 71: 161 (2015).
≡ Arthonia proximella Nyl., Lich. Scand. (Helsinki): 262 (1861).
Index Fungorum number: IF 636682; Facesoffungi number: FoF 07610, Fig. 1
Description:
Saprobic on host. Sexual morph: Ascostromata 350–380 μm diam., 150–177 μm high, solitary, superficial, dark to black, coriaceous, small rounded, discoid or flat shaped. Peridium 25–40 μm comprises 2 layers, dark-brown and thick-walled cells at outer layers, light brown to hyaline cells of textura angularis in inner layers. Hamathecium 1.9–2.2 μm, comprising dense, hyaline, unbranched, filamentous, septate, cellular pseudoparaphyses. Asci 35–50 × 19–22 μm (x̄ = 42.3 × 20.9 µm, n = 10), 8-spored, bitunicate, broadly clavate to subglobose, with a rounded apex and a short pedicel. Ascospores 14–15 × 5.7–6.7 μm (x̄ = 15.0 × 6.3 µm, n = 10), 2 to 3-seriate to irregularly arranged, ellipsoid, hyaline, 1-septate, with slightly larger upper cell, with slightly narrower lower cell, smooth-walled. Appendages faintly seen. Asexual morph: Unknown.
Material examined: Greece, Dodecanese, Rhodes Island, SW of Lardos at 300 m from the sea, on trunk of Olea europaea (Oleaceae) along a road in a dry and open landscape, 1st August 2017, Damien Ertz (BR5030108806599).
Fig. 1 Melaspilea proximella (BR5030108806599). a–c. Herbarium material. d. Section through ascostromata. e. Peridium. f. Cellular pseudoparaphyses g–j. Asci. j–m. Ascospores. Scale bars: c = 500 μm, d = 200 μm, e, g–i = 20 μm, f, j–m = 10 μm.
Importance and distribution
Melaspileella comprises only one species M. proximella growing on numerous trees and shrubs, such as trunks of Pinus (Pinaceae), Tilia (Malvaceae) and twigs of Juniperus (Cupressaceae). Melaspileella is known from Europe (Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Spain). Melaspileella neglectula has been transferred to Bryostigma.
References
Kutorga E, Hawksworth DL. 1997 – A reassessment of the genera referred to the family Patellariaceae (Ascomycota). Systema Ascomycetum 15, 1–110.
Zeller L, Tóth S. 1960 – Banhegyia, eine neue Gattung der Lecanorales. Sydowia 14, 326–329.
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