Ceratosphaeria ordinata (All Fungi)
Ascomata 170-300 µm diam, the body ± globose, ± superficial, strongly aggregated, black, leathery, faintly roughened; the neck strongly papillate, 40-60 µm long, tapering towards the apex, black, periphysate. Peridium composed of outer layers of thick-walled almost black cells intermediate between textura epidermoidea and angularis, the cells rarely more than 4 µm diam, merging into poorly-defined textura intricata in the neck region, and an inner layer of ± hyaline cells. Interascal tissue composed of copious fairly thick-walled persistent simple paraphyses to ca 3 µm diam. Asci 94-108 x 7-9.5 µm, narrowly cylindric-clavate, the base gradually tapered, thin-walled except at the apex, the apex obtuse but truncate within the ring, which is ca 2.5 µm diam and 1 µm thick, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged biseriately, 37-44 x 5-6 µm, narrowly fusiform, ± straight, the ends acute and sometimes attenuated, hyaline, fairly thin-walled, becoming ± equally 11- to 15-septate, constricted at the septa; smooth, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.
The only material seen is an old collection, Rabenhorst's Fungi Europaei no. 329. As the type has not been examined recently the identity of the GB material is in doubt. With its multiseptate fusiform ascospores, it may be better placed in Saccardoëlla Speg., but the relationships of that genus are currently undecided (Hyde, 1992a; Mathiassen, 1993). A link with Rhamphoria Niessl might also be considered.
On rotten decorticated wood of Quercus sp.
In GBI, known from England: Essex. A report from Sweden needs confirmation.