Ophiocordyceps taiwanensis Samarak., K.

Samarakoon, Milan C., Hsu, Kun-Chin, Chen, Chi-Yu, Li, Hou-Feng & Haituk, Sukanya, 2024, Ophiocordyceps taiwanensis sp. nov. (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) on Odontotermes formosanus (Termitidae, Blattodea), Phytotaxa 660 (2), pp. 97-111 : 104

Ophiocordyceps taiwanensis Samarak., K. -C. Hsu, C.-I Chiu & H.-F. Li, sp. nov. ( FIGURE 2 )

MycoBank: MB854173; Facesoffungi number: FoF 16024

Etymology—The specific epithet refers to the location from which the species was first collected.

Holotype — TNM F0037796

Associated with dead termite alates. Sexual morph: Stromata 0.4–2.6 mm high × 0.5–0.7 mm diam., arising from the thorax and abdomen of termite alates, grayish light brown, clavate, unbranched, apically rounded, short-pedicellate. Perithecia 280–365 × 140–210 μm (x = 319 × 173 μm, n = 20), embedded in loosely arranged stromal tissues, subglobose to ovoid, irregular arrangement, projecting, upper part erumpent through outer layer of stromal tissues. Paraphyses dissolving, not apparently observed. Asci 87–100 × 21–37 μm (x = 95 × 28 μm, n = 10) spore bearing section, 2-spored, rarely 3-spored, cylindrical to clavate, with tapered ends apex rounded, evanescent at maturity. Ascospores 78–95 × 20–27 μm (x = 86 × 23 μm, n = 30), ellipsoidal to ellipsoidal-fusiform, inequilateral, flat on one side, curved on the other, hyaline when immature, greenish brown at mature, with a dark hemispheric apical tip area, pairs with mostly flattened side in the central parts, lumina in the middle extending over the full length, smooth- and thick-walled, lacking a mucilaginous sheath. Asexual morph: Undetermined.

Material examined— Taiwan, Chengcing Lake, Kaohsiung City, Niaosong District, 3 MSL, on dead termite alates, Odontotermes formosanus ( Termitidae, Blattodeas ), May 2020, Kun-Chin Hsu, TNM F0037796, holotype.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Ophiocordyceps taiwanensis (holotype, TNM F0037796) a,b Stromata on the substrate. c Vertical section of stroma. d,e,g Vertical section of perithecia. f Longitudinal section of perithecia. h Peridium. i–o Asci (i,m in Congo Red). p–y Ascospores (w,x in 5% KOH). Scale bars: b = 1000 µm, c = 500 µm, d,e = 250 µm, f,g = 100 µm, i–v = 50 µm, h = 20 µm.