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Go to the NZFungi website for more indepth information on Xylaria luteostromata var. macrospora. Xylaria luteostromata var. macrospora

Biostatus

Present in region - Indigenous. Endemic

Images (click to enlarge)

 

Caption: Fig. 3 A-E Xylaria luteostromata var. macrospora A, Stromata (PDD 45394). B, C, Surface of stromata (left: PDD 28412, right: PDD 45394). D, Ascal ring (Melzer's reagent, PDD 45394). E, Ascospores with germ slits (Melzer's reagent, PDD
 
Description: Stromata: Stromata spherical, or upright (taller than broad); stipitate; 10-60 mm tall; 3-7 mm diam.; perithecia not visible; ostioles lower than or more or less equal to stromatal surface; stromatal surface wrinkled, or with peeling or flaking scales; dark brown (brown vinaceous), or blackish; KOH-extractable pigments lacking; tissue below perithecia conspicuous, essentially homogeneous, white.
Perithecia: Perithecia more or less globose; 0.3-0.5 mm diam.
Asci: Stipe short with spores filling about two-thirds of ascus; amyloid ring broader than high, or higher than broad.
Ascospores: Ascospores 11.5-14 µm long; 5-6.5 µm wide; brown; 0-septate; in side view inequilateral, flattened on one side, not curved; in face view fusoid, or elliptic; ends narrowly rounded. Germ slit straight, spore-length. Perispore indehiscent in 10% KOH.

Article: Rogers, J.D.; Samuels, G.J. (1987) [1986]. Ascomycetes of New Zealand 8. Xylaria. New Zealand Journal of Botany 24(4): 615-650 (http://www.rsnz.org/publish/abstracts.php).
Description: Stromata arising from decorticated wood, gregarious to solitary and scattered; unbranched or rarely with one branch, (1.0-)1.5-3.0(-6.0) cm long; tip at first conidiogenous. Fertile portion terminal; lanceolate to cylindric, rarely spathulate with broadest point median to basal, 3-5(-7) mm, elliptic to circular in section, less frequently flattened. Stipe not sharply delimited from the fertile portion, 3-20 mm x 1-2 mm, wrinkled, glabrous to velutinous with short brown hyphae. Surface of stroma at first brown, later black with scant remains of brown scales, slightly tuberculate to wrinkled with shallow creases between perithecial elevations; perithecia completely immersed, 300-500 µm diam.; each opening through a minute, mammiform papilla. Internal tissue of stroma white to very pale orange, orange intensifying somewhat in 3% KOH, solid. Asci 110-140 µm total length x 6-7(-8) µm, sporiferous portion (70-)80-105 µm, cylindrical; apical ring J +, wedge-shaped, 2.0-2.5 µm wide x 2-3 µm high; 8-spored, ascospores uniseriate with overlapping ends. Ascospores (10.0-)11.5-14.0(-16.5) x (4.0-)5.06.5 (-8.5) µm, inequilateral with one side flat and the other side curved, elliptic in top view; brown, transparent; slit full length, parallel to long axis of spore. Conidial stromata in vivo palmately branched above, ultimate branches white from conidial formation. Conidiogenous cells forming a compact palisade, c. 25 µm long x 3 µm wide, pale brown, smooth; conidiogenous loci terminal, with 1 µm wide refractive, frill-like scars remaining after conidial dehiscence. Conidia (8.0-)10.0-12.5 x (1.5-) 1.7-2.3(-3.0) µm, narrowly ellipsoidal to nearly cylindrical, colourless, smooth; each with a flat, 1 µm wide, refractive, frill-like basal abscission scar.
Habitat: HABITAT: On decaying wood of gymnosperms (Podocarpaceae: Dacrydium) and dicotyledonous trees.
Distribution: NORTH ISLAND: Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Wellington.
Notes: Xylaria luteostromata was described from Philippine specimens and was considered by Lloyd to be much like X. castorea except for the pale yellow stroma (Lloyd 1919). We have examined type material [Philippines, A.D.E. Elmer no. 7217, Jan., 1906 (K)] and authentic material [Philippines, on wood, E.D. Merrill no. 10549, Lloyd no. 10406 (BPI); Philippines, on wood, Baker exsicc. no. 300, Lloyd no. 12899 (BPI)] and agree that it is probably related to X. castorea. Our new variety macrospora differs from the typical variety primarily in its larger ascospores.