Polycoccum ventosicola
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: perithecia 40–80 μm diam. [fide Zhurbenko 2007], subglobose to pyriform, ostiolate, quite deeply immersed singly or in small clusters of 2-3 beneath a common clypeus. Peridium olive-brown, turning olive in KOH, composed of angular to elongate cells to ca 8 µm diam., with rather amorphous melanization. Interascal tissue composed of branched and anastomosed rather thick-walled pseudoparaphyses 1.5-2 µm diam. Hymenial gel not blueing in iodine. Asci 70-85 x 15-17 µm, subcylindrical to elongate-clavate, short-stalked, thick-walled and fissitunicate, the apex rounded with a conspicuous broad ocular chamber, not blueing in iodine, 8-spored. Ascospores arranged obliquely uniseriately to biseriately, 13.8-15.7 x (6.2-) 6.7-7.2 µm, apparently becoming slightly broader (7.6-8.2 µm) on release from the ascus, clavate to clavate-ellipsoidal, strongly constricted at the median to slightly submedian septum, the upper cell somewhat broader than the lower, becoming dark greenish brown, thick-walled, minutely verrucose, with a broad gelatinous sheath to ca 3 µm thick on release from the ascus.
The material examined has a proportion of ascomata in small clusters beneath a common clypeus which would suggest placement in Clypeococcum, but most otherfeatures fit well with the type description and the distinction between the two genera needs further examination.
On thalli of Ophioparma ventosa, not causing significant necrosis.
A single confirmed record from VC3 S Devon, and a possible further collection (sterile) from VC108 W Sutherland.