Mollisia subglobosa
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: stromata absent. Ascomata apothecia, formed singly or in compact clusters of up to 10-12, rather irregular in form but initially circular and discoid, the margins becoming convoluted especially in clustered ascomata, not gelatinized. Disc grey-green, the margin and underside initially pale, the undersurface becoming mid brown with age. Outer wall (ectal excipulum) composed of irregular dark brown angular cells 7-13 µm diam., with an outer layer of hyaline to pale brown cylindrical to clavate cells measuring 8-11 x 3-4 µm. Subhymenial layer composed of poorly defined hyaline hyphal tissue. Interascal tissue of copious unbranched thin-walled paraphyses ca 2 µm diam., sometimes slightly inflated with narrowly clavate tips. Asci 72-87 x 4-5.5 µm, narrowly clavate with a long tapering stalk, the base sometimes forked indicating the presence of croziers, uniformly thin-walled, the apex obtuse to rounded, with an apical ring 2-3 µm diam. and ca 1 µm thick that stains blue in Lugol's iodine, the ascus contents dextrinoid in Melzer's reagent, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged uniseriately, 4.5-5.5 (-6) x 3-3.5 (-4) µm, ellipsoidal or rarely fusiform-ellipsoidal, aseptate, hyaline or very pale yellow in mass, fairly thin-walled, strongly reticulate, the network 0.75-1 µm diam., without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.
Not formally assessed. In GB&I only known from a few sites in the New Forest and single sites in Pembrokeshire, and North Somerset; and apparently dependent in part on maintenance of current management practices for its host/substratum. Further survey and monitoring work should be a priority.
The correct position for this species in the fungal phylogenetic hierarchy is uncertain, but it is clearly misplaced in Mollisia and probably requires a new genus. The species was originally described from Tasmania; it is not currently clear whether the collections are conspecific. Records from Venezuela probably refer to a related taxon.
Associated with a Neonectria species (Neonectria ilicis = Nectria punicea var. ilicis) in the GB sites, and possibly a parasite of that species. Both are found growing from rotten wood and bark of Ilex aquifolium.
In GB&I, known from four locations in S Hampshire.
The species is associated with wood, bark and cut surfaces of dead trunks discarded from pollarding operations of Ilex trees, and may not appear for several years after they have been felled. It appears to grow primarily on the undersurfaces of the felled trunks, presumably where available moisture is higher.