Chlorencoelia australis P. R. Johnst. & Patejuk, 2025

Patejuk, Katarzyna, Johnston, Peter R., Park, Duckchul & Padamsee, Mahajabeen, 2025, Chlorencoelia (Leotiomycetes, Helotiales, Cenangiaceae) in New Zealand, MycoKeys 119, pp. 351-368 : 351-368

Chlorencoelia australis P. R. Johnst. & Patejuk , sp. nov.

Fig. 4

Etymology.

The species epithet “ australis ,” meaning “southern,” refers to the Southern Hemisphere and Australasian distribution, together with its southern distribution within New Zealand.

Type.

New Zealand • Stewart Island: Pryse’s Peak Track , 46.937407S, 168.015158E, on decorticated wood of Leptospermum scoparium , coll. P. R. Johnston (D 1686), R. Leschen & S. Whitton, 26 Apr 2002 ( PDD 99091 — holotype; ex-type culture ICMP 21732 ; GenBank ITS MH 682234 , genome QYAN 00000000) .

Description.

Apothecia 5–10 mm diam., short and broad stipitate, superficial on decorticated and rotting wood, discoid, infundibuliform, gregarious, hymenium steel blue or green when fresh, becoming brown upon drying. Receptacle dark grey-brown, roughened, with a yellow cast when dry. Stipe rugose. In vertical section, ectal excipulum 30–70 μm thick, comprising angular cells 5.5–10 µm diam. oriented nearly perpendicular to the flanks of the apothecium, walls pale brown, outer layer of clavate tomentum hyphae 15–25 × 8–12 μm, walls hyaline, slightly thickened, forming a well-developed layer across the surface of the receptacle, cells containing green to bright yellow vacuolar bodies in water. Medullary excipulum 170–240 μm thick, comprising a loose textura intricata, hyphae 1.5–3.5 µm diam., with walls pale brown, encrusted with dark brown granulations. Subhymenium 35–80 μm high, comprising pale brown, dense textura intricata. Asci 90–135 × 9–12 μm, cylindrical, with tapering stalks, tapering to subtruncate apex, wall thickened at apex, ascus pore blue in IKI and MLZ, croziers at base, 8 - spored. Ascospores (9.5 –) 11–16.5 × (2.5 –) 3–4.5 (– 5) μm (x – 13.3 × 3.6 µm), elliptical, tapering to rounded ends, slightly curved, 3–4 large, plus several smaller, lipid bodies. Paraphyses 2–2.5 (– 3.5) µm diam., undifferentiated to rounded apex, green or bright yellow vacuolar bodies in water.

Specimens examined. New Zealand • Taupo: Rangitoto Station, Ranginui Summit , 38.3646°S, 175.474°E, on decorticated wood, coll. P. R. Johnston (D 1615), S. Whitton, 16 May 2001 ( PDD 99178 ) . • Marlborough: Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve , 41.297003°S, 173.572436°E, on dead wood, coll. H. S. Chan, 16 May 2024 ( PDD 124454 ; culture ICMP 25618 ; GenBank ITS PQ 533031 ) . • Buller: Lewis Pass, Nina Valley Track , 42.4623°S, 172.363°E, on Nothofagus sp. dead wood, coll. A. E. Bell (AEB 496), 11 May 1990 ( PDD 73667 ) . • Mid Canterbury: Springfield, Kowai Bush , 43.2893°S, 171.925°E, on rotten wood Fuscospora solandri , coll. J. A. Cooper (JAC 10874), 5 Mar 2009 ( PDD 95342 ) . • Dunedin: Swampy Spur Track , 45.8013°S, 170.488°E, on dead wood, coll. D. P. Mahoney (AEB 1052), 12 May 2008 ( PDD 94231 ) . • Fiordland: Fiordland National Park, Lake Monowai , 45.824°S, 167.433°E, on dead wood of Nothofagaceae , coll. P. R. Johnston (D 641), 19 Mar 1991 ( PDD 58554 ) ; • Hollyford Valley, Lake Marian Track , 44.8003°S, 168.093°E, on dead wood, coll. P. R. Johnston & P. F. Cannon, 14 Feb 2003 ( PDD 119575 ) . • Auckland Islands: Adams Island, McLaren Bay, vic. Hut , 50.8667°S, 166.018°E, on rotting wood, coll. P. R. Johnston (AK 1049), 23 Mar 2006 ( PDD 111519 ; culture ICMP 25691 ; GenBank ITS PQ 541258 ) .

Australia • Victoria: Errinundra National Park, Errinundra Saddle, Rainforest Walk , on decorticated wood, coll. P. R. Johnston (AU 96-120), 24 May 1996 ( PDD 108041 ; culture ICMP 25304 ; GenBank ITS PP 701695 ) .

Notes.

Chlorencoelia australis can be distinguished from the other New Zealand species by its larger ascospores, which contain multiple lipid bodies. The layer of tomentum hyphae is better differentiated than the other two species. C. australis is also found in Australia. All but one of the New Zealand specimens examined were found in the South Island.

Figures

Figure 4. Chlorencoelia australis. A, B. Fresh specimens, showing green hymenium and dark-coloured receptacle; C. Dried specimen; D. Detail of underside of dried receptacle, showing yellow bloom; E. Excipulum in vertical section, tomentum hyphae to the top; F. Squash mount with tomentum hyphae (water + IKI); G. Squash mount with tomentum hyphae (water + MLZ); H. Paraphyses with yellow vacuolar bodies (water + IKI); I. Hymenium with asci, ascospores with lipid bodies, paraphyses (water + MLZ). A. PDD 95342; B. PDD 58554; C – D. PDD 124454; E. PDD 111519; F. PDD 108041; G – I. PDD 99091. Scale bars: 1 mm (A – C); 0.1 mm (D); 10 µm (E – I).