Coniochaeta subcorticalis  

Anamorph: unknown.

Teleomorph: Ascomata 150-200µm diam, globose to pyriform, superficial, often aggregated, the neck papillate to shortly conical, black, covered in a dense mat of irregular dark brown spines with acute to clavate tips. Peridium composed of an outer layer of dark brown textura angularis, difficult to make out because of the spines, and inner layers of less strongly pigmented tissue. Interascal tissue not seen. Asci 65-70 x 5-7µm, cylindrical, with an indistinct apical ring [Munk, 1957]. Ascospores 8.5-10 x 5.5-6.5 x 5-6µm, mid brown, hardly flattened, both face and side views oblong-elliptical, with a single germ slit running the entire length of one side, mucous sheath not seen.

This species is most easily characterized by the ascomata with their dense coat of short rather blunt spines. The only GB material examined did not have mature asci.