Lophiostoma caudatum (All Fungi)
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: Ascostromata scattered or aggregated, 350‒470 µm tall, 250‒380 µm diam, semi-erumpent, globose to globose-conical, sometimes flattened at the base, the apical part papillate with a well-developed matt black irregular crest to 230 µm tall and to 250 µm in length. Ascostromatal wall 15‒30 µm thick laterally, rather thinner at the base, strongly melanized, composed of 4‒6 layers of flattened angular cells. Interascal tissue composed of copious thin-walled anastomosing pseudoparaphyses 1.5‒2.5 µm diam, lacking a gelatinous matrix. Asci 80‒110 × 11‒14.5 µm, narrowly clavate, with a short tapered stalk 12‒25 µm in length, fissitunicate, with a small ocular chamber, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged biseriately, 18–25(–29.5) [mean 22.6, sd 1.54, n=40] × 4.5–6 [mean 5.4, sd 0.33, n=40] μm, clavate-fusiform, rounded at the apex and ± acute at the base, usually 5-septate, constricted at the septa and slightly more so at the slightly submedian primary septum, the cell immediately above the primary septum usually a little inflated, guttulate when young, becoming mid brown, the end cells not less strongly pigmented, smooth-walled or faintly verrucose, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.
No conservation assessment has been carried out. As currently defined, the species appears to be quite rarely encountered over much of its range and it may be of conservation concern, but currently it is not sufficiently well defined in morphological or molecular terms to allow a formal assessment. Its apparently wide host range might indicate lesser concern, if the species is truly plurivorous.
Characterized especially by its clavate-fusiform ascospores. The species is rather variable and may represent a taxon complex.
Apparently plurivorous, although primarily known as a grass associate. In GB&I, reported from dead culms, leaves, stems etc. of Apiaceae (Heracleum sphondylium), Caryophyllaceae (Silene latifolia subsp. alba), Cyperaceae (Carex arenaria), Fabaceae (Ononis spinosa subsp. procurrens), Onagraceae (Epilobium hirsutum), Poaceae (Dactylis glomerata., Festuca arundinacea, Leymus arenarius, Phragmites australis, Poa nemoralis), Rosaceae (Filipendula ulmaria) and Urticaceae (Urtica dioica).
In GB&I, reported from England (Nottinghamshire, E Sussex, Warwickshire, N Wiltshire and SW Yorkshire) and Scotland (Benbecula). Elsewhere, scattered throughout northern temperate regions.