Paragaeumannomyces smokiensis Reblova & A.N. Mill. sp. nov. Figure 10

Typification.

USA - Tennessee • Sevier Co., Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Greenbrier, alternative side trail to Whaley Cemetery; alt. 549 m; 10 Jul. 2005; on decaying wood; A.N. Miller & A.M. Stchigel leg.; A.N.M. 466 (holotype: ILLS00121398!).

Etymology.

Named after the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from where it was collected.

Description on the natural substrate.

Teleomorph: Ascomata perithecial, non-stromatic, superficial, solitary or in small groups, 270-390 μm diam, 320-400 μm high, subglobose to broadly conical, finely roughened, dark reddish-brown, glabrous except for the black papilla with dark brown, stiff, acute setae, 9.5-13.5 × 2-2.5 μm, densely aggregated around the ostiole. Ostiole periphysate. Ascomatal wall leathery, three-layered; outer layer of textura angularis consisting of globose to subglobose, reddish-brown cells; middle layer composed of brick-like, brown cells; inner layer of flattened, thin-walled, subhyaline cells. Paraphyses abundant, hyaline, longer than the asci, tapering. Asci (134-)140-174(-189) × 11-13(-14) μm (mean ± SD = 158.2 ± 19.4 × 12.3 ± 0.9 μm), cylindrical-fusiform, stipitate, apically narrowly rounded, ascal apex non-amyloid with a distinct apical annulus 2-2.5 μm wide, 1-1.5 μm high. Ascospores (58-)60.5-80.5 × (3-)3.5-4.5(-5) μm (mean ± SD = 69.8 ± 6.3 × 4.0 ± 0.5 μm), filiform to cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, hyaline, 9-11-septate, septa often unevenly distributed, not constricted at the septa, asymmetrical, rounded at the apical end, tapering towards the basal end, with one or two guttules in each cell, 2-3-seriate or 4-seriate and partially overlapping, seldom in a single fascicle. Anamorph: Unknown.

Habitat and distribution.

A saprobe on decaying wood, known only from the USA.

Notes.

The present species is most similar to P. abietinus, the only member of the genus known from Europe. They share dark reddish-brown, glabrous ascomata with short setae surrounding the ostiole. Although the size of ascospores of both species overlap, P. abietinus differs from P. smokiensis by longer [(185-)195-240 × 12-14.5(-15.5) μm] asci and slightly longer and wider ascospores [(62-)65-87 × (3.5-)4-5.5 μm] with usually less septa [(5-)7-9(-11)].