Figures 30-31

Fig. 30.. Perithecia of, from left, Coniochaeta ligniaria, C. scatigena and C. hansenii.
Fig. 31.. Ascospores of C. scatigena (l) and C. ligniaria (r).

90(89) Spores 34-45 × 19-25µm, without caudae but surrounded by a thin (ca 5µm) gelatinous sheath. Perithecia ca 0.5-0.7mm diam., ± smooth.
Podospora globosa
- Spores 17-20 × 8-9.5µm, flattened on one side, convex on the other. Perithecia 0.3-0.45µm diam., with distal cells of agglutinated hairs fimbriate.
Podospora fimbriata
91(89) Perithecia hairy. Spores 27-32 × 16-19µm, appendage 15-18 × 2.5-3µm.
Anopodium ampullaceum
- Perithecia glabrous. 92
92(91) Spores 28-32 × 16-21µm, appendage 12-15 × 3-3.8µm.
Anopodium epile
- Spores 30-37 × 16-20µm, appendage 24-27 × 5µm.
'Podospora' dagobertii (fig. 28)
(The combination in Anopodium has not been made; see Lundqvist, 1964, 1972)
93(88) Spores flattened, disc shaped, with a germ slit around the edge. Perithecial neck with short (up to 120µm) setae.
(Coniochaeta, figs 30, 31) 94
- Spores ellipsoid. Perithecial neck without setae or with very prominent (up to 950µm) tufts of agglutinated hairs. 99
94(93) Asci with numerous (64-128) spores. 95
- Asci 8-spored. 96
95(94) Spores 6-10 × 5-9 × 4-7µm. Perithecial setae up to 120µm long.
Coniochaeta hansenii (fig. 30)
- Spores 13-16 × 9.5-13.5 × 5.5-8µm. Perithecial setae up to 35µm long.
Coniochaeta sp.
96(94) Spores 7-9 × 6-8 × 5-6µm, slightly flattened.
Coniochaeta leucoplaca
- Spores larger. 97
97(96) Spores narrowly elliptical in face view (length more than 2 × width), ca 13-18 × 6-9 × 4-6µm.
Coniochaeta saccardoi
- Spores broadly elliptical to nearly circular in face view (length less than 2 × width). 98
98(97) Spores (9)10-16(20) × 7.5-10(15) × (4)5-8µm. Neck setae 20-50µm long.
Coniochaeta ligniaria (figs 30, 31)
- Spores (16)17-23 × (10)13-19 × 7.5-10(15)µm. Neck setae 40-80µm long.
Coniochaeta scatigena (figs 30, 31)
99(93) Perithecial neck with prominent agglutinated tufts of rigid setae up to 950µm long. Spores 43-54 × 20-29µm, with apical germ pore. A gelatinous sheath which surrounds the whole spore swells in water, and appears fringed at the margin and radially striate.
Arnium macrothecium
- Perithecial neck without setae. Gelatinous sheaths may be clearly visible around spores, but are not complex in structure. 100
100(99) Spores with germ slit along the side. Ascus with a large and complex plug at the tip staining blue or red in KI (other genera have asci with blue staining ascus tips, but the feature is very pronounced in this genus and is unlikely to be mistaken). Perithecia form singly or severally in a stroma which is usually of limited extent, often without a definite margin. [N.B. if orange and with a stroma see Selinia, 119].
(Hypocopra, fig. 32) 101
- Spores without germ slits, but often asymmetrical, and with a small papilla at the basal end. Asci without complex apical plug.
(Sordaria, fig. 33) 107
101(100) Spores mostly less than 25µm long. 102
- Spores more than 25µm long. 104
102(101)
Spores 9-14 × 6-7µm. Hypocopra parvula
- Spores larger. 103
103(102) Stroma with a brown hyphal mat between perithecial necks. Spores 19-27 × 10-14µm.
Hypocopra equorum (fig. 32)
- Stroma with white hyphae between black perithecial necks, becoming smooth. Spores 23-25 × 12-14µm.
Hypocopra brefeldii
104(101) Ascospores up to 15µm wide. 105
- Ascospores 15µm or wider. 106
105(104) Ascospores 25-31 × 10-15µm, distinctly flattened on one side. Ascus plug blue in KI, but becoming reddish.
Hypocopra planispora
- Ascospores 26-32 × 13-14µm, ellipsoid and narrowed towards their ends.
Hypocopra stephanophora
106(104)
Ascospores 27-43 × 16-20µm. Hypocopra merdaria
-
Ascospores 38-50 × 19-24µm. Hypocopra stercoraria
107(100) Spores up to 10µm long. 108
- Spores 10µm or longer. 109
108(107)
Asci 8-spored. Spores 8 × 4µm. Sordaria minima
- Asci ca 128-spored. Spores 5-8 × 4-5µm.
Sordaria polyspora
109(107) Spores relatively narrow, at least twice as long as wide, 22-26 × 9-12µm. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct.
Sordaria alcina
- Spores relatively broad, less than twice as long as wide. 110
110(109) Spores mostly 25µm or longer. 111
- Spores up to 25µm long. 112
111(110) Spores (21)23-29(30) × 14.5-17(18)µm, with apiculate base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 240-300 × 20-24µm.
Sordaria superba
- Spores (26)28-35 × (17)18-22µm, with slightly apiculate base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 280-350 × 30-35µm.
Sordaria macrospora
112(110) |Spores with gelatinous sheath absent or very thin, 19.5-25 × 15.5-19µm.
Sordaria humana (fig. 33)
- Spores with gelatinous sheath, up to 15µm diam. 113
113(112) Spores obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 18-23 × 12-15µm.
Sordaria lappae
- Spores ellipsoid, 17-25 × 10-14µm.
Sordaria fimicola (fig. 33)
Figures 32-33

Fig. 32. Hypocopra equorum, perithecium with limited stroma, and detail of ascus tip with blue staining plug and spore.
Fig. 33. Ascospores, from left, of Sordaria fimicola, S. humana and Sphaerodes fimicola.

114(3) Spores 20-28 × 12-16µm, with subacute ends, each with a germ pore.
Gelasinospora adjuncta
- Spores larger. 115
115(114) Asci 4-spored. Spores 24-29 × 15-18µm, with rounded ends and one germ pore.
Gelasinospora tetrasperma
-
Asci 8-spored. Spores 26-35 × 22-27µm Gelasinospora cerealis
116(4) Perithecia orange to golden, often gregarious, almost spherical, necks ca 50µm diam., 15µm high, setae at ostiole hyaline, up to 35 × 3µm. Spores limoniform, with a germ pore at each end, 15-25 × 9-16µm.
Sphaerodes fimicola (fig. 33)
- Perithecia yellow or reddish brown (darker when filled with mature spores), neck 50µm long, with setae at the ostiole 40-70µm long. Spores dark brown to black, limoniform, 20-34 × 11-17µm, with apical germ pore.
Melanospora brevirostris
117(2)
Asci more than 8-spored. see Key 1 at 86
- Asci with 8 or fewer spores, or asci evanescent, not readily observed. 118
118(117) Perithecia orange/yellow, 500-1000µm diam. Spores long (over 45µm) or 2-celled if shorter. 119
- Perithecia smaller, or black or with a neck. Spores shorter (less than 20µm) or septate if longer. 120
119(118) Perithecia orange, 500-1000µm diam., in small groups on a limited stroma. Spores thick walled, 48-60 × 22-26µm, with a gelatinous sheath.
Selinia pulchra
- Perithecia orange yellow, superficial, ca 500µm diam., with ostiole in a disc surrounded by silvery triangular tufts of hyphae ca 100µm long. Spores ellipsoid, 1-septate, 12-14 × 4-5µm.
Nectria suffulta
120(118) Perithecia reddish brown or pale, hyaline, with a distinct neck. 121
- Perithecia black. 131
121(120) Perithecia globose, up to 250µm diam., immersed, reddish brown, with a neck 1-3 mm long. Asci broad ellipsoid, 5-8.5µm, rapidly breaking down and difficult to see. Spores ellipsoid-allantoid. 5.5-7 × 1.5-2µm, collecting in a pearly droplet at the fringed tip of the perithecial beak.
Viennotidia fimicola (fig. 34)
- Perithecia pyriform, very pale in colour, 60-200µm diam., with a neck 60-700µm long. Asci rarely visible. Spores pointed-fusiform, 1-3 septate, often with a sheath and clumped together in fascicles.
(Pyxidiophora, fig. 36) 122
122(121) Neck 95-145µm long, brown, rugose, with cells arranged in 5-6 longitudinal rows visible in one view. Spores 38-52µm long.
Pyxidiophora badiorostris
- Neck not brown or rugose, composed of hyaline, irregularly arranged cylindrical cells. 123
123(122) Spores less than 45µm long. 124
- Spores more than 45µm long. 125
124(123) Spores 35-45µm long, with brown apical or subapical patches of pigment.
Pyxidiophora brunneocapitatus
- Spores 35-43µm long, without brown apical or subapical patches of pigment.
Pyxidiophora microsporus
125(123) Spores mostly 45-60µm long. 126
- Spores mostly longer than 60µm. 129
Figures 34-36

Fig. 34. Viennotidia fimicola, perithecium and spores.
Fig. 35. Phomatospora coprophila, perithecium, and ascus with spores.
Fig. 36. Pyxidiophora petchii, perithecium and spores.

126(125) Perithecia 70-100µm diam., neck 100-190µm long. Spores (43)48-58(65)µm long.
Pyxidiophora grovei
- Perithecia usually less than 80µm diam. 127
127(126) Perithecial necks mostly less than 100µm long. Spores (45)48-57(60)µm long.
Pyxidiophora arvernensis
- Perithecial necks up to 200µm long. 128
128(127) Spores 45-53µm long.
Pyxidiophora petchii (fig. 36)
-
Spores 53-65µm long. Pyxidiophora schotterianus
129(125) Spores 60-70µm long. 130
- Spores (75)80-90(100)µm. Perithecia 120-160µm diam., neck 220-370µm long.
Pyxidiophora bainemensis
130(129) Perithecial necks 300-700µm long. Spores 60-70µm. Perithecia 100-120µm diam.
Pyxidiophora spinuliformis
- Perithecial necks 225-265µm long. Spores 65-70µm. Perithecia 110-125µm diam.
Pyxidiophora marchalii
131(120) Perithecia small, up to 400µm diam., with hairy necks. Spores hyaline or pale, coppery-red en masse, extruded in tendrils. 132
- Perithecia larger, without hairy necks. If smaller than 200µm, with spores smaller than 5 × 3µm. 134
132(131) Spores reniform, with gelatinous sheath, 3.5 × 2-3µm, yellow, reddish brown en masse in extruded tendrils. Asci spherical, evanescent. Perithecia black, spherical, 200-400µm diam., with cylindrical neck up to 300µm long, with sparse pointed hairs.
Microascus longirostris
- Spores larger, not reniform. Perithecia up to 300µm diam. 133
133(132) Perithecial necks long, up to 750µm, with terminal hairs up to 1500µm, curved or circinate at tips. Spores limoniform, 7-10.5 × 5.5-7µm.
Lophotrichus ampullus
- Perithecial necks short, ca 50µm, with long straight tapering hairs. Spore shape limoniform/variable, 6-7.5 × 5-5.5µm, with prominent germ pores.
Lophotrichus bartletti
134(131) Perithecia up to 150µm diam., immersed but for a conical neck 50-75µm high. Asci 50 × 2-2.5µm. Spores minute, cylindrical, 3.5-4.5 × 1.75-2.5µm.
Phomatospora coprophila (fig. 35)
- Perithecia more obvious, often hairy, or tomentose when young. Immature spores up to 70µm long, wavy cylindrical, with a row of globules inside and a short thin appendage at each end.
(see Cercophora, 49)
135(1) Perithecia immersed, surrounded at the neck by a very limited flange-like stroma which is easily overlooked.
see Hypocopra, 101
or if orange see Selinia, 119
- Stroma very conspicuous. 136
136(135) Perithecia in a subglobose group at the tip of the stromatic stalk. Spores with germ slit and gelatinous sheath.
(Podosordaria) 137
- Perithecia not in a terminal head. 139
137(136) Stalk short, 3-5mm. Spores (12)14-19 × 6-9µm, slightly flattened on one side.
Podosordaria leporina
- Stalk long, 1-6cm. Spores larger. 138
138(137) Spores 21-24 × 11-12µm. Stromatic stalk hairy.
Podosordaria tulasnei
- Spores 40-60 × 20-30µm. Stromatic stalk not hairy.
Podosordaria pedunculata
139(136) Stroma externally black, rooted or partially immersed in the dung, expanding at the surface to form a white disc up to 15mm diam., punctate with black perithecial ostioles.
(Poronia) 140
- Stroma not as above. 141
140(139) Spores 18-26 × 7-12µm, bean shaped, with gelatinous sheath. Stroma deeply rooted. Especially on horse dung.
Poronia punctata
- Spores (22)25-32(35) × (12)14-18µm, oblong ellipsoid to slightly fusiform. Stroma not deeply rooted. Especially on rabbit dung near the sea.
Poronia erici
141(139) Stroma spreading over surface of dung or filamentous. Spores ellipsoid to slightly flattened on one side, with germ slit. (Xerophilic fungi developing after long periods of relatively dry incubation).
(Wawelia) 142
- Stroma clavate, black, partly immersed to superficial, usually aggregated in small groups, ca 1-1.5mm high × 0.6-0.7mm diam., each containing a single perithecium. Spores ellipsoid with germ pore and gelatinous sheath.
(Bombardioidea) 146
142(141) Stroma spreading on substrate, black brown, firm but not brittle. Ascomata globose, 0.5-1mm, with white hyphae at neck. Spores broad limoniform, 15-19 × 9-10µm.
Wawelia effusa
- Perithecia globose to pyriform, black, brown or dark grey, produced laterally along the length of fine stromatal strands growing from the dung. 143
143(142) Asci 4-spored. 144
- Asci 8-spored. 145
144(143) Spores 15-18 × 9-12µm. Perithecia up to 400µm diam., dark grey at maturity, single or clustered, the ostiole with a crown of silvery white hyphae. Stromata up to 30 × 0.1-0.5mm.
Wawelia sp.
- Spores 6-8 × 4-6µm. Stromata conical, white, 5-12 × 1-2mm.
Wawelia regia
145(143) Perithecia hairy, globose, 350-500µm diam., stromatal strands up to 25mm long. Spores ellipsoid, flattened on one side, 9-12 × 6-8µm.
Wawelia octospora
- Perithecia villose with conidiophores, globose, 230-420µm diam., produced laterally on stromatic filaments 20-30 × 0.1-0.3mm. Filaments pink at first, with a white pointed tip, becoming brown, velvety with conidiophores. Spores ellipsoid to flattened on one side, 7.5-9.5 × 3-4.5µm.
Wawelia sp. (fig. 37)
Figure 37

Fig. 37. Wawelia sp., stromatic filaments with perithecia growing from a rabbit pellet, ascospores, and conidiophore and conidia.

146(141) Asci 8-spored. Spores 20-31 × 9.5-15µm.
Bombardioidea bombardioides
- Asci 4-spored. 147
147(146) Spores 24-34 × 15-19(20)µm. Basal germ pore less distinct than the apical one.
Bombardioidea serignanensis
- Spores 34-43 × 16-22µm. Distinct germ pore at each end of spore.
Bombardioidea stercoris
148
(key 1,1)		 Fruit bodies solitary or in small groups, each a subglobose, fertile, light brown head on a slender sterile stalk. Head soon bursting to expose the yellow ochraceous spore mass. On mixtures of bird droppings, cast pellets and decaying animal material. 149
- Fruit bodies superficial, lacking a distinct stalk. 150
149(148) Spores 5-8 × 2-3µm. Head 1-2mm diam.
Onygena corvina (fig. 38)
-
Spores 7-9 × 4-6µm, 4-5µm. Head 2-4mm diam. Onygena equina
150(148) Fruit bodies with an external wall of loosely anastomosing and interwoven hyphae, and with ± specialised terminal cells (gymnothecia, fig. 39). 151
- Fruit bodies with a well defined parenchymatic wall (cleistothecia, fig. 46). 161
151(150) Gymnothecia with simple thin-walled, ± uniform and poorly developed hyphae constituting the outer hyphal sheath. 152
- Gymnothecia with thick-walled hyphae modified at their ends into appendages, or if thin-walled then always accompanied by appendages (i.e. curled, toothed or pointed hyphae). 155
Figure 38

Fig. 38. Onygena corvina, habit sketch, ascus and ascospore.

152(151) Gymnothecia red-orange to brick-red. Ascospores orange, subglobose to ellipsoid, with an equatorial furrow, smooth, 4.5-5.5 × 3.5-4.5µm.
Arachniotus ruber (fig. 40)
- Gymnothecia white or yellow, never orange or brick-red. Ascospores without an equatorial furrow. 153
153(152) Gymnothecia white. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid, smooth, 3-4 × 2-2.5µm.
Arachniotus candidus
- Gymnothecia distinctly pigmented, yellow or brown. Ascospores larger than 4µm. 154
154(153) Gymnothecia yellow brown. Ascospores orange to brownish, slightly lenticular, smooth or slightly roughened, 5-6.5 × 3.3-4.6µm.
Arachniotus confluens
- Gymnothecia lemon yellow. Ascospores lemon yellow, lenticular, smooth, 5-6 × 3-4.5µm.
Arachniotus citrinus
Figures 39-45

Fig. 39. Habit sketch of a gymnothecium and ascus.
Figs 40-45. Spores and peridial hyphae.
Fig. 40. Arachniotus ruber.   Fig. 41. Myxotrichum chartarum.
Fig. 42. Gymnoascus californiensis.   Fig. 43. Gymnoascus reesii.
Fig. 44. Ctenomyces serratus.   Fig. 45. Arthroderma curreyi.

155(151) Gymnothecia possessing only thick pigmented hyphae. 156
- Gymnothecia possessing ± thin, hyaline hyphae with only a few, although often distinctive, appendages (i.e. comb-shaped end cells or dumb-bell shaped asperulate cells accompanying twisted and bent hyphae). 160
156(155) Gymnothecia brown-black or dark greenish-grey, with external hyphae with spine-like branches and septate, hooked appendages. Ascospores orange brownish, ovate, delicately striate, 4-5.2 × 2.4-3.3µm.
Myxotrichum chartarum (fig. 41)
- Gymnothecia never black, and, if possessing thick-walled hyphae, then appendages never septate. Ascospores smooth, or if ornamented then asperulate or echinulate. 157
157(156) Gymnothecia rose to orange-brown or yellowish. Appendages curved or irregularly branched and pointed, never verticillately branched. Ascospores smooth, or at most asperulate. 158
- Gymnothecia red-brown with appendages verticillately branched. Ascospores 3-4.5 × 2-2.8µm, yellowish brown, lenticular.
Actinodendron verticillatum
158(157) Gymnothecia rosy pink when young, becoming browner, with spines and curved, non-septate hairs. Ascospores hyaline, globose to subglobose, asperulate, 3-5 × 2.5-4µm.
Gymnoascus californiensis (fig. 42)
- Gymnothecia yellow. Ascospores smooth. 159
159(158) Gymnothecia yellow to yellow-brown, without elongated appendages but with thick-walled branches, few of which are pointed. Ascospores globose-ellipsoid, yellow to brownish, 3-4.5 × 3.5µm.
Gymnoascus reesii (fig. 43)
- Gymnothecia golden yellow to reddish-brown, with acute-ended appendages. Ascospores lenticular, smooth, hyaline, 2.5-3.5 × 2-2.5µm.
Pseudogymnoascus roseus
160(155) Gymnothecia orange brown, with comb-like appendages. Ascospores slightly lenticular, pale orange, 3.3-3.6 × 2-2.6µm.
Ctenomyces serratus (fig. 44)
- Gymnothecia whitish to pale ochraceous, particularly when dry, with few appendages but those present twisted and bent, and their branches constricted with regular or irregular dumb-bell shaped cells. Hyphal walls asperulate or with protuberances. Ascospores smooth, lenticular, hyaline, 2.4-3.3 × 2µm.
Arthroderma curreyi (fig. 45)
161(150) Asci relatively large, 100-200-spored, 1-3/fruit body. 'Cleistothecia' minute, <100 (rarely <250)µm diam., immersed.
see Thelebolus etc. (Key 1, 86)
- Asci with 8 or fewer spores. 162
162(161) Ascospores purple at maturity, large, 50-70 × 25-35µm, epispore with a few longitudinal cracks.
see Ascobolus immersus (Key 1, 48)
- Ascospores smaller, hyaline, yellow, olivaceous, brown or black. 163
163(162) Ascospores olivaceous, brown or black, at least in part. 164
- Ascospores aseptate, hyaline, yellow or other pale colours. 174
164(163) Ascospores 4-celled (cf. Sporormiella), with germ slits, readily fragmenting. Asci clavate, bitunicate. Cleistothecia black, shiny, up to 500µm diam. 165
- Ascospores 1- or 2-celled. 166
165(164) Ascus stalk up to 20µm long. Ascospores 25-32 × 5µm.
Preussia vulgaris
- Ascus stalk 30-60µm long. Ascospores 26-38 × 5-7µm.
Preussia funiculata (fig. 47)
166(164) Ascospores 2-celled. 167
- Ascospores 1-celled 170
167(166) Spores unequally 2-celled, one brown ellipsoid, with an apical germ pore, 10-12 × 6.5-7.5µm, the other a basal hyaline, cylindrical pedicel, 6-8 × 3µm. Cleistothecia black, globose, up to 250µm diam., covered with flexuous brown hairs up to 1mm long. Asci evanescent.
Zopfiella erostrata
- Spores equally 2-celled. 168
168(167) Spores not constricted at the septum, ellipsoid, golden-brown, 25-30 × 10-15µm with 1-3 guttules in each cell. Cleistothecia gregarious on a mycelial mat, whitish to pale orange, up to 500µm diam.
Heleococcum aurantiacum (fig. 48)
- Spores hyaline, divided into two almost globose cells by the constricting septum. Ascomata superficial, globose, dark coloured.
(Mycoarachis) 169
169(168) Asci 8-spored, 5.5-11µm diam. Spores 5-5.5 × 3-3.5µm.
Mycoarachis inversa
- Asci 4-spored, 6-6.5µm diam. Spores 4.5-5 × 2-2.5µm.
Mycoarachis tetraspora
170(166) Asci broad-clavate, (1)-2-(3)-spored, 30-50 × 13-18µm. Spores brown-black with short ridges and warts, subglobose, 12-15.5 × 11-12.5µm, with a single germ pore.
Copromyces bisporus (fig. 49)
- Asci 8-spored. 171
171(170) Spores globose, sooty brown, 3µm diam. Cleistothecia gregarious, with basal spirally coiled appendages, black, 100-200µm diam., partially immersed in a white to red felty hyphal mat.
Pleuroascus nicholsonii
- Spores larger, ellipsoid or limoniform. 172