Cucurbitaria ephedricola

Cucurbitaria ephedricola Esfand., Sydowia 1(4-6): 162 (1947)

Index Fungorum number: IF 285901; Facesofungi number: FoF 00934

Saprobic on wood. Sexual morph: Ascomata 300–800 μm diam., immersed to erumpent, grouped, subglobose or flask shaped and often flattened, with rounded papillate ostiole up to 50 μm diam., black. Peridium 60–100 μm wide, composed of 2–3 layers of pseudoparenchymatous cells, outer layer comprising of thick-walled, dark brown cells of textura angularis to textura globulosa, inner layer comprising of thin-walled, hyaline to pale brown, flattened cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium composed of 2 μm wide, numerous, hyaline, cellular, branched, septate pseudoparaphyses. Asci 150–200 × 13–20(−25) μm (x̄ = 176 × 16 μm, n = 20), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, arising from the base of the inner ascomatal wall, numerous, cylindrical, with a broadly rounded apex with an ocular chamber. Ascospores 20–30(−35) × 10–15 μm, ellipsoidal, oblong ovoid, broadly fusiform, often asymmetrical, with obtuse to acute ends, straight or slightly curved, mostly 7-septate, sometimes 5- or 6- or 8- or 9-septate, with 1 or 2 longitudinal septa, often distinctly narrower at the median septum, initially colourless or yellowish, later olivaceous brown to dark brown. Asexual morph: undetermined.  

Material examined: ITALY, Province of Forlì-Cesena [FC], Strada San Zeno, Galeata, on the dead stem, 30 October 2013, E. Camporesi (MFLU 15–1516, reference specimen designate here).

GenBank Numbers: LSU: KT313007, SSU: KT313005.