Epiphegia microcarpa
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: stromata black, forming an irregular to conical carbonaceous mass below the bark of the host in which the ascomata are immersed in groups of 1-8, reaching the surface through slits in the bark. Ascomata 500-750 µm diam., globose to subglobose, with papillate, erumpent ostioles which may fuse into a common structure surrounded by a brownish disc at the surface of the stroma. Interascal tissue consisting of sparse branched, cellular pseudoparaphyses to ca 2 µm diam. Asci clavate, fissitunicate with a distinct ocular chamber, dextrinoid, 8-spored. Ascospores (18-) 22-26 (-30) x 6-8.5 µm, broadly fusiform to elongated ellipsoidal, 3-septate (1-septate in young ascospores), not constricted at the septa, the primary septum median, middle cells equal and shorter but broader than end cells, the ends rounded, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.
Not formally assessed. The species may be uncommon, as it appears not to have been reported since 1950. However, it is inconspicuous and probably much under-recorded. It would probably be assessed as Data Deficient.
Many features of this species are shared with Massarina species, but the genus differs in its stromata containing ascomata with convergent, fused necks.
In GB&I, recorded from dead bark of Alnus glutinosa, with other reports in FRDBI associating the species with Ribes and Rhododendron.
In GB&I, reported from England (VC1 W Cornwall, VC17 Surrey, VC28 W Norfolk, VC40 Shropshire, VC57 Derbyshire, VC61 SE Yorkshire, VC64 MW Yorkshire, VC65 NW Yorkshire), Scotland (VC75 Ayrshire) and Wales (VC41 Glamorgan).
Considered to be a saprobe, though no detailed research has been carried out.