Schizothecium conicum
Anamorph: Phialophora-like, only seen in culture. Conidiomata and conidiophores absent. Conidiogenous cells formed singly or in irregular whorls from vegetative hyphae, 6-10 (-16) x 3-5 µm, irregular in shape but usually pyriform with a flared collarette, proliferating percurrently. Conidia ca 3 x 2 µm, obovoid with a truncate base, aseptate, hyaline, smooth, without an epispore, gelatinous sheath or appendages.
Teleomorph: stromata absent. Ascomata perithecia, 250-650 µm diam. and 400-950 µm tall, pyriform, the neck dark and tapering, to ca 200 µm in length, surrounded by pale to mid brown agglutinated hairs 30-110 µm in length composed of 3-5 short hairs joined laterally, the terminal cells pointed and usually darker brown, sometimes also with hypha-like hairs. Peridium pale to mid brown, membranous, composed of several layers of angular cells. Interascal tissue cylindric-moniliform, composed of chains of very thin-walled globose to ellipsoidal cells, deliquescent at maturity. Asci 200-230 x 25-32 µm, cylindric-clavate with a gradually tapering stalk, thin-walled, the apex rounded, with an apical plug and a small iodine-negative apical ring sometimes visible, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged biseriately, the upper cell 22-29 (-31) x 13-18 µm, dark brown to almost black, ellipsoidal to fusiform-ellipsoidal or limoniform, sometimes slightly inaequilateral, the base truncate and the apex obtuse, smooth, with an apical germ pore; the lower cell (5-) 7-12 (-16) x 2-2.5 µm, persistent, cylindrical, sometimes curved, hyaline and thin-walled; with elongate whip-like apical and basal gelatinous sheaths, the apical sheath usually broader and sometimes somewhat eccentric and the basal sheath extending to cover the basal cell.
Not formally assessed, but the species is common and unlikely to require conservation action.
On dung of a range of herbivores, including cow, deer, goat, horse, rabbit and sheep.
Widely distributed throughout Great Britain, with a few records from Northern Ireland and ROI.