Bombardia bombarda  

Stroma: absent.

Ascomata 700-1500 x 450-600 µm, strongly aggregated, cylindric-ellipsoidal to cylindric-clavate, black, often with a reddish brown mealy surface, the apex obtuse, rarely weakly papillate, with a periphysate ostiole. Subiculum absent or weakly developed, as a pale brown mycelial mat. Peridium complex in structure; 4-layered; an outer layer of amorphous brown or black material, a wide pale cartilaginous layer of textura intricata, a layer of textura angularis which is strongly melanized towards the base, and an inner layer of hyaline flattened cells. Interascal tissue of paraphyses, filiform, to 3 µm diam, fairly thick-walled, frequently septate, sometimes branched. Asci 190-250 x 10-12 µm, cylindrical, sometimes very long-stalked, fairly thin-walled, the apex truncate with a very conspicuous J- apical ring ca 3 µm diam, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged biseriately, at first 31-42 x 3-4 µm, cylindrical, the ends obtuse to rounded, often geniculate about one third of the way from the base, thin-walled, hyaline, guttulate, aseptate, with two apical tapered mucous appendages to ca 7 x 1.5 µm; eventually becoming septate about two thirds of the way from the base, the upper cell swelling to become ellipsoidal to fusiform, 11-15 x 8-10 µm in size, dark brown, smooth, with a truncate base, obtuse apex and an apical germ pore, at the stage usually lacking the mucous appendages.

Anamorph: unknown.