Neotherrya catilliformis Lan Zhuo & C. L. Hou, 2025

Zhuo, Lan, Wang, Hai-Qi, Zhang, Peng, Sui, Xiao-Nan, Guo, Mei-Jun, Wang, Shi-Juan & Hou, Cheng-Lin, 2025, New genera and species of coniferous twig-inhabiting Rhytismatales from China, IMA Fungus 16, pp. e 138790-e 138790 : e138790-

Neotherrya catilliformis Lan Zhuo & C. L. Hou sp. nov.

Figs 20 , 21

Etymology.

Catilliformis (Latin) = plate-shaped, referring to the shape of ascomata.

Diagnosis.

This new species is distinguished from other Neotherrya species by lacking an internal matrix of the Covering stroma.

Type.

CHINA, Yunnan Province, Lijiang, Laojunshan , 26.6323°N, 99.7252°E, alt. ca. 3880 m, on twigs of Abies georgei ( Pinaceae ), 16 Jul. 2020, C. L. Hou, M. J. Guo, and Q. T. Wang, HOU 1608 A ( BJTC 2020049 , holotype) .

Sexual morph.

Ascomata on twigs, slightly erumpent from the bark, scattered or aggregated, not associated with pale areas. In surface view, ascomata round to irregular, 550–950 × 350–750 µm, black (# 000000), opening by irregular splits to expose an orange (# ffa 500) hymenium. Lips absent. In median vertical section, covering stroma 20–40 μm thick near the center of ascomata, extending to the basal Covering stroma, consisting of an outer layer of carbonized, angular to globose cells and an inner layer of hyaline, angular to globose cells close to the opening. Excipulum well-developed, formed by marginal paraphyses. Basal Covering stroma 15–25 µm thick, easily separable from the hymenium layer when observed under the microscope, consisting of carbonized, thick-walled, angular cells. Internal matrix of Covering stroma absent. Subhymenium 25–30 µm thick, consisting of hyaline, globose cells. Paraphyses aseptate, filiform, not branched, swollen to 2–3 µm at tips, 130–150 × 1–2 µm, covered by a thin gelatinous sheath. Asci ripening sequentially, clavate, apex obtuse, 110–130 × 12–15 µm, thin-walled, J –, 4 - spored. Ascospores 1–8 - septate, cylindrical, 12–15 × 6–7 μm, hyaline, without gelatinous sheaths.

Asexual morph.

Conidiomata and zone lines not seen.

Additional specimens examined.

CHINA, Yunnan Province, Lijiang, Laojunshan , 26.6323°N, 99.7252°E, alt. ca. 3880 m, on twigs of Abies georgei ( Pinaceae ), 26 Jul. 2024, C. L. Hou, L. Zhuo, and X. N. Sui, HOU 2304 ( BJTC 2024154 ) ; 26.6357°N, 99.7294°E, alt. ca. 3850 m, on twigs of A. georgei , 17 Aug. 2023, C. L. Hou, L. Zhuo, and S. Y. Zhao, HOU 2097 ( BJTC 2023227 ) .

Distribution.

Known only from Yunnan Province, China.

Notes.

In the phylogenetic tree, sequences of N. catilliformis form a well-supported clade (MLB = 100 %, MPB = 97 %, PP = 1.00) with N. circinata , but the latter has a well-developed internal matrix in the Covering stroma, a black epithecium formed by curled, coiled paraphyses, and 8 - spored asci.

Figures

Figure 20. Neotherrya catilliformis (HOU 1608 A / BJTC 2020049, holotype) a ascomata on a twig of Abies georgei b, c mature ascomata. Scale bars: 3 mm (a); 200 μm (b); 500 μm (c).

Figure 21. Neotherrya catilliformis on Abies georgei (HOU 1608 A / BJTC 2020049, holotype) a part of an ascoma in vertical section b paraphyses, mature asci with ascospores, and immature ascus c liberated ascospores. Scale bars: 50 μm (a); 10 μm (b, c).