Brahmaculus packhamiae T.W.May & P.R.Johnst., 2021

Johnston, Peter R., Park, Duckchul, Smith, Matthew E., Mujic, Alija B. & May, Tom W., 2021, Brahmaculus gen. nov. (Leotiomycetes, Chlorociboriaceae), MycoKeys 80, pp. 19-43 : 19

Brahmaculus packhamiae T.W.May & P.R.Johnst. sp. nov. Figure 6

Typification.

Australia - Tasmania • Geeveston District, Hermons Rd; -43.2652, 146.8613; J.M. Packham (6/R6/26) leg.; 5 June 1995; MEL 2363173 - holotype; PDD 117311 - isotype.

Etymology.

Named after the late Jillian ( “Jill”) Mary Packham whose assiduous collecting activities detected the type collection.

Diagnosis.

Phylogenetically distinct from other known Brahmaculus spp., apothecia up to 11 × 2.5 mm, paraphyses undifferentiated to rounded apex, ascospores 5.5-8.5 × 1.5-2.5 µm (average 7.2 × 1.8 µm).

Description.

Apothecia up to 11 mm high, stipe up to 0.8 mm wide, cap up to 2.5 mm wide, the cap comprising several closely packed apothecial cups, these arising from short branches at the top of the stipe, hymenium white when fresh. Receptacle densely covered with stiff, bright yellow hairs, stipe with shorter hairs, yellow rhizomorphs at base. Hairs 40-60 × 2.5-3.5 µm, straight, narrow flask-shaped, broad near base then tapering suddenly to narrow-cylindric apical part, apex rounded, thin-walled, 1-2 septate near the base, densely encrusted with coarse, bright yellow crystals, that dissolve in KOH + Melzers. Ectal excipulum comprising cylindric cells 8-15 × 3-5 µm, oriented at a low angle to the receptacle surface, walls slightly thickened, hyaline. Medullary excipulum comprises partly tangled hyphae 3-5 µm diam. with walls thin, hyaline. Paraphyses 2-2.5 µm diam., undifferentiated at the rounded apex, about the same length as the asci. Asci 35-45 × 4.5-5.5 µm, cylindric, tapering slightly to broad, subtruncate apex, wall thickened across apex, amyloid pore extending through wall, flaring toward outside of wall. Ascospores 5.5-8.5 × 1.5-2.5 µm (average 7.2 × 1.8 µm, n = 20), oblong-elliptic, tapering slightly to rounded ends, one side flat in side view, sometimes slightly curved, 0-septate, hyaline.

Notes.

Brahmaculus packhamiae is macroscopically and microscopically similar to the Chilean B. magellanicus , both species having relatively long and narrow stipes. Notes with the specimen, indicate that when fresh the ascomata "seem to be attached to roots".

Figures

Figure 6. Brahmaculus packhamiae (PDD 117311) A, B dried apothecia C detail of head of dried apothecium D hymenial surface of rehydrated apothecium, showing multiple separate apothecial cups E squash mount showing excipular cells and hairs in KOH + Melzer's reagent F ascoma in vertical section G paraphyses, asci, and ascospores H ascospores. Scale bars: 1 mm (A-C); 0.1 mm (D); 10 µm (E-H).