Keissleriella pinicola, Keisslieriella pinicola
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: ascostromata perithecial, 90-140 µm diam. and 100-150 µm tall, globose to pyriform, at first immersed and soon becoming superficial, in small clusters or scattered over the substratum surface, black, the ostiole strongly papillate and surrounded by dark brown acute-ended setae 15-20 µm in length and ca 2 µm diam. Peridium 12-20 µm thick, composed of 2-5 layers of dark brown thick-walled angular cells to 4·5 µm diam. Interascal tissue of filiform pseudoparaphyses filiform, degenerating by the time the asci are mature. Asci 45-65 x 7.5-11 µm [50-70 x 9-13 µm fide Hawksworth & Sivanesan 1975], clavate-cylindrical, short-stalked, thick-walled and fissitunicate with an inconspicuous ocular chamber, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged biseriately, 11.5-14 x 3.5-4.5 µm [14-19 x 3.5-4.5 µm fide Hawksworth & Sivanesan 1975], broadly fusiform, straight or slightly curved, 3-septate, slightly constricted at the mid septum, with rounded apices, initially hyaline but becoming pale brown at maturity, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.
Not formally assessed. There are 14 records in FRDBI scattered throughout the British Isles. Bearing in mind the species is very inconspicuous, it may be reasonably common.
Differs from other species of Keissleriella by its pigmented ascospores that lack a gelatinous sheath. It probably belongs to the genus Capronia, and is close to C. spinifera.
On rotten wood and bark of Pinus sylvestris, sometimes associated with a degenerated hyphal network on which it may initially have been parasitic.
In GB&I, reported from England (S Devon, W Gloucestershire, W Lancashire, Surrey, Worcestershire, MW Yorkshire) and Scotland (Islay, Peebles, Wigtownshire).