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Asteromassaria sp. P1719
Nomenclature
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Family: PleomassariaceaeGenus: Asteromassaria
SUMMARY
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: ascostromata perithecial, 300-400 µm diam. and 180-280 µm high, oblate to oblate-spherical, scattered or in small clusters of 2-5, initially immersed within the blackened host epidermis but becoming almost entirely erumpent, the ostiole central, not papillate. Ascostromatal wall 50-80 µm thick laterally, 20-25 µm thick above and around the ostiolar region, and 10-15 µm thick at the base of the ascostroma, composed of layers of elongate to angular dark brown cells. Interascal tissue of narrow pseudoparaphyses, 1.5-2 µm diam., septate, branched and anastomosed, developing within a gelatinous matrix. Asci 170-190 x 38-46 µm, clavate, very thick-walled, fissitunicate, with a short tapering base and a rounded apex with a conspicuous ocular chamber, not staining blue in iodine, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged biseriately, 39-46 x 14.5-17 µm, broadly fusiform to fusiform-ellipsoidal, the ends obtuse to rounded, often slightly curved, with a strongly constricted median to slightly submedian primary septum, rarely developing further septa towards the apices of the spore, very thick-walled, hyaline and smooth-walled, surrounded by a very conspicuous gelatinous sheath 2-5 µm thick within the ascus, expanding greatly after discharge. Senescent ascospores are usually 1-septate, golden to mid brown, irregularly shrunken, often with longitudinal folds and with a minutely echinulate surface.