You are here
All Fungi
Geoglossum cookeanum
Nomenclature
-
Family: GeoglossaceaeGenus: Geoglossum
SUMMARY
Anamorph: unknown.
Teleomorph: ascomata 30-70 x 5-15 (-20) mm, robust, irregularly shaped but usually roughly cylindric-clavate to clavate, more rarely spathulate or compressed, the apex obtuse to rounded, matt black (glossy when fully hydrated), not glutinous, ± smooth. Fertile part not clearly differentiated from the stipe, occupying the upper part of the ascoma and extending to around two thirds of its length. Stipe terete or slightly compressed, fuliginous to entirely black, initially furfuraceous and covered in short brown septate ± smooth-walled hairs, mostly falling away to leave a smooth surface at maturity. Interascal tissue composed of filiform paraphyses 2-3 µm diam., slightly longer than the asci and adherent in distinct clusters within a weakly developed dark brown gelatinous matrix, not curved or coiled at the apex, hyaline at the base, the upper part (roughly 20-25% of the length) pale to mid brown, more thick-walled and closely septate, strongly constricted at the septa and forming chains of ovoid to doliiform cells 4-6 µm diam., sometimes interspersed with narrow ± cylindrical cells, the apical cells sometimes reaching ca 8 µm diam. Asci 150-180 x 18-20 µm, cylindric-clavate to clavate, mostly slightly attenuated towards the rounded apex, fairly thick-walled but not fissitunicate, with a J+ apical pore, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged in parallel, (50-) 60-80 (-90) x 5-7 µm, narrowly cylindric-clavate with a rounded apex and acute base, straight or slightly curved, dark brown, 7-septate (rarely 6-septate), thick- and smooth-walled, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.