Chlorociboria novae-zelandiae 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

Chlorociboria novae-zelandiae P.R.Johnst. sp. nov.

Typification.

New Zealand - Fiordland • Kepler Track, control gates; -45.4396, 167.6822; on Nothofagaceae sp. dead wood; P.R. Johnston (D1484), R.E. Beever, S.R. Pennycook, R. Leschen, T. Lebel leg.; 10 May 2000; PDD 77447 - holotype; ICMP 18766 - ex type culture.

Etymology.

Refers to the country of origin, in contrast to Argentina and the morphologically similar C. argentinensis , with which C. novae-zelandiae was previously confused.

Diagnosis.

Similar to Chlorociboria argentinensis in having small, allantoid ascospores and lacking tomentum hyphae, but phylogenetically distinct and with smaller ascospores and narrower asci.

Additional specimens examined.

C. novae-zelandiae : New Zealand - Fiordland. • Borland Lodge nature trail; on Nothofagaceae sp. dead wood; P.R. Johnston (D1471.2) leg.; 9 May 2000; PDD 77446 - North Canterbury. • Mt Thomas Forest , Richardson Track; on Nothofagaceae sp. dead wood; P.R. Johnston (D679) leg.; 15 Mar 1991; PDD 58574 , ICMP 15616 - Nelson. • Arthur Range, Graham Valley Rd, track from Flora car park to Mt Arthur Hut ; P.R. Johnston (D993) leg.; 6 May 1994; PDD 77444 .

C. argentinensis : Argentina - Tierra del Fuego • Lago Fagnano, vic. Kosobo, road to hot springs; on Nothofagus pumilio fallen wood; P.R. Johnston (SA86), L. Lorenzo leg.; 22 Mar 1996; PDD 92026 ; ICMP 16994 - Patagonia . • Rio Negro, Nahuel Huapai National Park , path from Puerto Blest to Los Cantaros; on Nothofagus dombeyi fallen wood; P.R. Johnston (SA 188), I. Gamundí, C. Brion leg.; 2 Apr 1996; PDD 92027 ; ICMP 16995 .

Notes.

Johnston and Park (2005: 690-693) provided a description of C. novae-zelandiae , from New Zealand specimens reported under the name C. argentinensis . Subsequent DNA sequencing of specimens from Argentina identified as C. argentinensis , showed that the New Zealand species is phylogenetically distinct. Morphologically, the two species are similar, both with an excipulum comprising highly gelatinous textura intricata, the apothecia lacking hair-like tomentum hyphae, and with small, allantoid ascospores. The New Zealand species has somewhat smaller ascospores (average 7.0 × 1.5 µm versus 9.9 × 1.9 µm) and narrower asci (3.5-4.5 µm versus 4-5.5 µm) compared with the Argentinian specimens recognised here as C. argentinensis . The Argentinian specimens match closely the description of Dixon (1975).