A NEW GENUS OF THE GYMNOASCACEAE WITH SWOLLEN PERIDIAL SEPTA

Abstract

A new genus of the Gymnoascaceae, Auxarthron, is established to include certain species previously excluded from Gymnoascus and Myxolrichum. The genus is characterized by the presence of (1) enlargements at the septa in the peridial hyphae; (2) ascospores globose, subglobose to ovoid, asperulate to echinulate-reticulate, and hyaline to pale orange-yellow-brown; (3) the presence of either short spines or elongate appendages, or both; (4) lightly colored, elongate appendages which are non-septate except for one, two, or three basal septa with characteristic swellings at such septa; (5) orange-yellow-brown colored to brown ascocarps with a peridial network of more or less dichotomously anastomosed hyphae. Seven species are included in the genus as follows: Auxarthron californiense sp. nov. (the type species), A. reticulatum (Zukal) comb, nov., A. zuffianum (Morini) comb, nov., A. umbrinum (Boudier) comb, nov., A. brunneum (Rostrup) comb, nov., A. conjugatum (Kuehn) comb, nov., and A. conipactum sp. nov.