Podosordaria tulasnei  

Anamorph: not known.
Stromata clavate, the exposed part 2-3 mm diam., with an elongated stipe (sometimes to several cm long) developing via a rhizomorph from the buried substratum, containing (2-) 3-7 ascomata, the stroma with a black outer cortex and a white medulla. Ascomata perithecia, strongly swollen and making the stroma head irregular in shape, 600-750 µm diam., globose, surrounded by a layer to 100 µm thick of stromatal tissue, including outer blackened cortex and inner hyaline tissue. Peridium black, 30-40 µm thick, the ostiole slightly papillate and with a narrow band of peridial tissue sometimes exposed. Interascal tissue of thin-walled paraphyses 3-4 µm diam, sometimes branched at the base. Asci 180-250 x 20-22 (-24 µm), ± cylindrical with a long gradually tapering stalk, fairly thick-walled but not fissitunicate, the apex obtuse with a large ring structure to ca 7 µm diam. and 9 µm thick that blues in iodine, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged uniseriately, often obliquely so, 22-26.5 x 14-16 µm, ellipsoidal, aseptate, dark brown to almost black when mature, smooth, with a straight germ slit extending the entire length of the spore, with a conspicuous broad gelatinous sheath ca 3 µm diam.