Mollisia fuscoparaphysata
Anamorph: unknown, but related species have a phialidic anamorph resembling Phialocephala or Phialophora.
Teleomorph: Stromata and subiculum absent. Ascomata apothecia, to 350 µm diam., scattered, superficial, dark grey (sometimes slightly yellowish when immature or over-hydrated), smooth. Excipulum composed of globose cells, the outer layer brown, paler inside, with a marginal layer of thick-walled hyphal cells. Interascal tissue of simple filamentous paraphyses protruding up to 15 μm beyond the asci, 1-2 μm diam., the tips clavate, to 5 μm diam., dark, sometimes branched near the apex, pigmented due to a well-developed dark brown mucous coating. Asci 70-85 x 10.5-12.5 μm, cylindric-clavate, the ascus pore reaction blue in iodine, 8-spored. Ascospores (13.5-) 14.5-15.5 (-16) x (3-) 4-5 μm [living spores measured in water], fusiform to ellipsoidal, 1-septate, sometimes slightly contricted at the septum, hyaline, smooth, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.
Not formally assessed. Historically known from only a few sites in Britain, but now known to be widespread and apparently frequent throughout the south of England, Wales, and Scotland. Often to be found on the first samples examined at each site, suggesting it is a common associate of Trichophorum spp., at least where it has been found, but probably also wherever Trichophorum occurs. It therefore should be assessed as Least Concern in Britain.
Two similar species have been reported from Trichophorum cespitosum/germanicum: Niptera trichophoricola and N. eriophori. N. trichophoricola has similar ascospore morphology (1-septate, 10-14 x 3 μm) and ascus size (60 x 9-10 μm), and has only been reported from Trichophorum cespitosum. Differentiating characters include paraphyses that are hyaline and non-forked, smaller apothecia (200 μm vs 350 μm), and a reported fruiting period in August to October. However, the fungi appear similar enough to suspect that they are the same species. Populations of a fungus corresponding to this description were found recently in Dorset mixed with those of M. fuscoparaphysata, and the paraphyses found to have a mucous coating as with that species.
Niptera eriophori has been more frequently reported in GB, from a number of other sedge and grass hosts, and can be distinguished by the larger ascospores (18-22 x 5-7.5 μm).
Found on dead culms and leaves of Trichophorum cespitosum s.l. (probably T. germanicum), and also Eleocharis multicaulis. Additionally reported from Molinia and (in France) Carex limosa, but these host identities need confirmation. Possibly habitat- rather than host-specific.
Scattered, restricted to where Trichophorum spp. occur, but now known to be present in numerous sites across south England, Wales, and Scotland.
Wet peaty habitats such as bogs or drainage channels. In Dorset the fungus is found on very wet dead leaves underneath living clumps of the host plant, close to or even under water.