Part 4

43(41) Spores 20-25 × 4.5-6µm, the cells slightly tapered and almost completely separated. Pseudothecia hairless, globose, ca 200µm diam. _Delitschia leptospora_ (fig. 26) - Spores longer and wider. 44

44(43) Spores transversely septate. 45 - Spores obliquely septate, deeply constricted at the septum, 35-50 × 15-18µm. _Delitschia didyma_

45(44) Pseudothecia hairy. Spores 37-50 × 17-20µm, not deeply constricted at the septum. _Delitschia chaetomioides_ - Pseudothecia smooth. 46

46(45) Spores biseriate, 45-55 × 13-16µm, one cell usually larger than the other, deeply constricted at the septum and readily separating. _Delitschia canina_ - Spores uniseriate, 40-55 × 16-21µm, both cells equal. _Delitschia patagonica_

47(29) Spores with colourless 'gelatinous' secondary appendages (caudae, fig. 28) at one or both ends (not always easy to see; mounting in Indian ink is useful, and essential for some). A hyaline (empty) cell, the primary appendage (fig. 28), may also be present. 48 - Spores without caudae, although a colourless gelatinous sheath may be present. Primary appendages present or absent. 88

48(47) Perithecia often hairy or tomentose when young. Immature spores long, wavy cylindrical, with a row of globules, and more likely to be seen than mature spores (fig. 29). Secondary appendages thin, simple, up to 60 × 3µm. Mature spores with a dark cell 14-25 × 7-13µm and pedicel (primary appendage) 25-50 × 3-6µm. (_Cercophora_) 49 - Perithecia often with scales or setae at the neck or tomentose. Caudae, simple or compound. Immature spores clavate or ellipsoid, not long, wavy cylindrical. Mature spores readily observed. 51

49(48) Immature spores 45-70 × 4-6µm. 50 - Immature spores smaller, 38-52 × 3-3.5µm. Mature spores with upper (dark) cell 14-18 × 7-9µm; hyaline pedicel 27-36 × 3-3.5µm. _Cercophora silvatica_

50(49) Perithecia with white or grey tomentum. Young spores 45-65 × 4.5-6µm. Mature spores with upper cell 17-25 × 8.5-13µm and pedicel 30-50µm long. _Cercophora coprophila_ (fig. 29) - Perithecia with flexuose brown hairs and, at the neck, tufts of agglutinated, swollen, obtuse hairs. Young spores 52-68 × 4-5µm. Mature spores with upper cell 15-25 × 9-11µm and pedicel 35-45µm long. _Cercophora mirabilis_

51(48) Primary appendage absent. (_Arnium_, fig. 28) 52 - Primary appendage present. 60

52(51) Asci (64-)128-spored. Spores 18-26 × (10)12-15µm. Perithecial neck sometimes with rigid, brown, septate hairs up to 330µm. _Arnium leporinum_ - Asci 4- or 8-spored. 53

53(52) Asci 4-spored. 54 - Asci 8-spored. 55

54(53) Spores ellipsoid, sometimes inequilaterally flattened, 44-54 × 22-30µm, with 1 apical germ pore, caudae not swelling in water. Perithecium usually with lateral tufts of agglutinated hairs up to 550µm long. _Arnium arizonense_ - Spores evenly ellipsoid-fusiform, 31-55 × 18-25µm, with germ pore at each end, caudae covering germ pores, 35-60 × 7-11µm, but rupturing and swelling to up to 130 × 50µm, and becoming diffuse and irregular. Perithecial neck covered with rigid hairs up to 190 × 2.5µm. _Arnium hirtum_

55(53) Perithecial neck distinctly setose with rigid hairs. 56 - Perithecial neck without setae. 57

56(55) Spores evenly ellipsoid-fusiform, 31-55 × 18-25µm, with germ pore at each end, caudae covering germ pores, 35-60 × 7-11µm, but rupturing and swelling up to 130 × 50µm, and becoming diffuse and irregular. Perithecial neck covered with rigid hairs up to 190 × 2.5µm. _Arnium hirtum_ - Spores slightly inequilateral, 35-43 × 17-23µm, caudae 50-75 × 5-8µm, not covering germ pores. Perithecial neck with brown hairs up to 250µm long. _Arnium cervinum_

57(55) Perithecia covered with a dense tomentum of septate flexuous hairs. Spores mostly longer than 45µm. Only occasionally fimicolous. 58 - Perithecia without a tomentum. Spores up to 45µm. 59

58(57) Spores (40)45-54 × 25-35µm, uniseriate. Tomentum pale or grayish. _Arnium olerum_ - Spores 47-70 x 20-30µm, biseriate above. Tomentum olivaceous brown. _Arnium tomentosum_

59(57) Spores somewhat inequilateral, rounded below, pointed above, 31-40 × 18-24µm, caudae 50-120 × 6-10µm, with 1 apical germ pore not covered by cauda. _Arnium caballinum_ - Spores equilateral, 36-44 × 20-23µm, caudae 50-80 × 6-8µm, covering germ pores. _Arnium mendax_

60(51) Perithecia with scales at the neck, composed of inflated and agglutinated cells (fig. 27, _S. conicum_). (_Schizothecium_) 61 - Perithecia setose or hairy at the neck, but not with inflated cells, or neck black but almost hairless. (_Podospora_) 70

61(60) Asci 4-spored. 62 - Asci 8-spored. 63

62(61) Spores 11-14.5 × 6.5-9µm. _Schizothecium nanum_ (fig. 28) - Spores 19-24 × 12-14.5µm. _Schizothecium tetrasporum_

63(61) Spores more than 30µm long. 64 - Spores less than 30µm long. 65

64(63) Perithecia crowned with a fascicle of long agglutinated hairs at the neck, up to 335µm long. Spores 31-40 × 15-25µm, biseriate. _Schizothecium aloides_ - Perithecia with shorter, less remarkable tufts. Spores 30-45 × 19-24µm, ± uniseriate. _Schizothecium glutinans_

65(63) Perithecial neck with rigid setae, as well as agglutinated hairs (which may be greatly reduced). Asci 140-210 × 19-25µm, broadest at the markedly rounded apex. Spores 18-23 × 11-14µm. _Schizothecium pilosum_ - Perithecial neck without rigid setae. Asci broadest in the middle. 66

66(65) Spores mostly over 23µm long. 67 - Spores up to 23µm long. 69

67(66) Spores 22-25(27) × 11-13µm. Scales at neck distinct. _Schizothecium hispidulum_ - Spores wider, 12-19µm 68

68(67) Perithecia 0.5-1mm high, scales at neck usually well developed. Spores (23)26-30 × 12-17µm. _Schizothecium conicum_ (fig. 27) - Perithecia 1-2mm diam., subpyriform, neck velvety with indistinct scales. Spores 24-28 × 15-19µm. _Schizothecium squamulosum_

69(66) Spores 17-23 × 8.5-13.5µm, primary appendage slender cylindrical, 6-8 × 2µm. Perithecia 0.25-0.7mm high, sometimes with poorly developed scales. _Schizothecium vesticola_ (fig. 28) - Spores 11-14 × 6-8µm, primary appendage short, 2µm long, almost triangular. Perithecia 0.3-0.45mm high, with short agglutinated hairs. _Schizothecium cervinum_

70(60) Asci 4-spored. Spores 35-40 × 18-19µm. _Podospora pauciseta_ - Asci with more than 4 spores. 71

71(70) Asci 8-spored. 72 - Asci with more than 8 spores. 82

72(71) Spores more than 45µm long. 73 - Spores less than 45µm long. 74

73(72) Spores 48-60 × 27-31µm, caudae apparently striate. Perithecia superficial, covered with rigid, nonagglutinated hairs up to 120µm. _Podospora fimiseda_ - Spores 50-68 × 22-32µm, caudae apparently segmented, with an intestine-like appearance. Perithecia immersed to superficial, with a long neck, tomentose with long flexuous hairs when young, more or less glabrous when mature. _Podospora intestinacea_

74(72) Perithecia superficial, ovoid to globose, covered with short (up to 100µm), sparse, radiating, hyaline tipped, hairs. Spores 24-31 × 11-15µm, with simple caudae. _Podospora appendiculata_ (figs 27, 28) - Perithecia with base immersed in substrate, pyriform, without such hairs. 75

75(74) Perithecial neck with short tubercular hairs, up to 20µm long. Spores 32-42 × 17-22µm, with a long but withering primary appendage. Caudae in two rings, one inserted near the base of the primary appendage, the other at the spore apex. The individual filaments may be free, but often clump together to form an apparently broad appendage. _Podospora decipiens_ (figs 27, 28) - Perithecial hairs longer. Caudae single or 4 at each end. 76

76(75) Spores with 4 caudae at each end. 77 - Spores with a single cauda at each end. 78

77(76) Spores 40-45 × 22-25µm. _Podospora gwynne-vaughaniae_ - Spores 29-40 × 16-25µm. _Podospora communis_

78(76) Spores less than 30 × 15µm. 79 - Spores larger than 30 × 15µm. 80

79(78) Spores 21-28 × 11-14µm, primary appendage 12-14 × 4µm. Perithecia 0.3-0.5mm diam., neck setose with rigid cylindrical hairs. Asci 200-250 × 22-26µm, broadest in the middle. _Podospora ellisiana_ - Spores 18-23 × 11-14µm, primary appendage 4-8 × 3µm. Perithecia 0.2-0.3mm diam., neck setose with rigid hairs. Asci 140-210 × 19-25µm, broadest at the markedly rounded apex. _Schizothecium pilosum_

80(78) Perithecia ca O.9-1.4mm high × 0.6-0.7(0.85)mm diam., neck not hairy. Spores (29)36-45 × (17.5)22-27µm, caudae ephemeral and difficult to see, even in Indian ink. _Podospora pyriformis_ - Perithecial neck with tufts of rigid hairs. 81

81(80) Perithecia 0.38-0.53mm high × 0.21-0.38mm diam., ± immersed, with hairs at the neck up to 335µm long, grouped in rigid fascicles. Spores slightly flattened on one side, 30-37 × 18-24µm, caudae invisible in water. _Podospora excentrica_ (figs 27, 28) - Perithecia ca 0.8-1.4mm high × 0.4-0.7mm diam., semi-immersed, hairy all over, flexuous below, rigid and pointed at the neck up to 170µm. Spores 33-45 × 22-27µm. _Podospora perplexens_

82(71) Asci 16-32-spored. Perithecial neck with short tubercular hairs. Spores 25-36 × 15-24µm. Caudae in two rings, one inserted at the base of the primary appendage, the other at the spore apex; individual filaments may be separate or clumped to appear as a broad single appendage (cf. _P. decipiens_). _Podospora pleiospora_ - Asci with more than 32 spores. 83

83(82) Perithecia with tufts of rigid hairs at neck. Asci with more than 64 spores. 84 - Perithecia without tufts of rigid hairs. Asci 64-spored. 87

84(83) Spores 14-17 × 9-11µm. Asci 256-spored. Perithecia ca 500µm diam., immersed, except for the neck, which has tapered tufts of hairs up to 300µm. _Podospora curvicolla_ - Spores larger. Perithecia semi-immersed. 85

85(84) Spores (18)20-26 × 12-16µm, caudae of 2-several filaments covered with granules. Asci 512-spored. Perithecia up to 1mm high × 0.95mm diam., neck with rigid but non-agglutinated hairs up to 130µm long. _Podospora granulostriata_ - Caudae simple, without granular appearance. Asci 128-spored. Perithecia not larger than 750µm high × 500µm diam., with rigid, non-agglutinated hairs up to 190µm long at neck. 86

86(85) Spores 17-19 × 10-12µm. _Podospora setosa_ - Spores 19-24 × 11-16µm. _Podospora tarvisina_ (See discussion in Lundqvist (1972) on these last three names)

87(83) Spores 24-34 × 14-19µm, caudae in two rings, one inserted at the base of the primary appendage, the other at the spore apex; individual filaments may be separate or clumped to appear as a broad single appendage (cf. _P. decipiens_/_P. pleiospora_). Perithecia ca 0.6-1.1mm high × 0.4-0.5mm diam., covered with flexuous hairs or rarely smooth. _Podospora myriaspora_ - Spores 15-20 × 10-15µm, caudae small, simple and evanescent. Perithecia 0.4-0.5mm high, covered with long flexuous hairs. _Podospora collapsa_

88(47) Spores with primary appendage. 89 - Spores without primary appendage. 93

89(88) Spores with primary appendage directed towards base of ascus. 90 - Spores with primary appendage directed towards apex of ascus. (_Anopodium_) 91

90(89) Spores 34-45 × 19-25µm, without caudae but surrounded by a thin (ca 5µm) gelatinous sheath. Perithecia ca 0.5-0.7mm diam., ± smooth. _Podospora globosa_ - Spores 17-20 × 8-9.5µm, flattened on one side, convex on the other. Perithecia 0.3-0.45µm diam., with distal cells of agglutinated hairs fimbriate. _Podospora fimbriata_

91(89) Perithecia hairy. Spores 27-32 × 16-19µm, appendage 15-18 × 2.5-3µm. _Anopodium ampullaceum_ - Perithecia glabrous. 92

92(91) Spores 28-32 × 16-21µm, appendage 12-15 × 3-3.8µm. _Anopodium epile_ - Spores 30-37 × 16-20µm, appendage 24-27 × 5µm. _'Podospora' dagobertii_ (fig. 28) (The combination in _Anopodium_ has not been made; see Lundqvist, 1964, 1972)

93(88) Spores flattened, disc shaped, with a germ slit around the edge. Perithecial neck with short (up to 120µm) setae. (_Coniochaeta_, figs 30, 31) 94 - Spores ellipsoid. Perithecial neck without setae or with very prominent (up to 950µm) tufts of agglutinated hairs. 99

94(93) Asci with numerous (64-128) spores. 95 - Asci 8-spored. 96

95(94) Spores 6-10 × 5-9 × 4-7µm. Perithecial setae up to 120µm long. _Coniochaeta hansenii_ (fig. 30) - Spores 13-16 × 9.5-13.5 × 5.5-8µm. Perithecial setae up to 35µm long. _Coniochaeta_ sp.

96(94) Spores 7-9 × 6-8 × 5-6µm, slightly flattened. _Coniochaeta leucoplaca_ - Spores larger. 97

97(96) Spores narrowly elliptical in face view (length more than 2 × width), ca 13-18 × 6-9 × 4-6µm. _Coniochaeta saccardoi_ - Spores broadly elliptical to nearly circular in face view (length less than 2 × width). 98

98(97) Spores (9)10-16(20) × 7.5-10(15) × (4)5-8µm. Neck setae 20-50µm long. _Coniochaeta ligniaria_ (figs 30, 31) - Spores (16)17-23 × (10)13-19 × 7.5-10(15)µm. Neck setae 40-80µm long. _Coniochaeta scatigena_ (figs 30, 31)

99(93) Perithecial neck with prominent agglutinated tufts of rigid setae up to 950µm long. Spores 43-54 × 20-29µm, with apical germ pore. A gelatinous sheath which surrounds the whole spore swells in water, and appears fringed at the margin and radially striate. _Arnium macrothecium_ - Perithecial neck without setae. Gelatinous sheaths may be clearly visible around spores, but are not complex in structure. 100

100(99) Spores with germ slit along the side. Ascus with a large and complex plug at the tip staining blue or red in KI (other genera have asci with blue staining ascus tips, but the feature is very pronounced in this genus and is unlikely to be mistaken). Perithecia form singly or severally in a stroma which is usually of limited extent, often without a definite margin. [N.B. if orange and with a stroma see _Selinia_, 119]. (_Hypocopra_, fig. 32) 101 - Spores without germ slits, but often asymmetrical, and with a small papilla at the basal end. Asci without complex apical plug. (_Sordaria_, fig. 33) 107

101(100) Spores mostly less than 25µm long. 102 - Spores more than 25µm long. 104

102(101) Spores 9-14 × 6-7µm. _Hypocopra parvula_ - Spores larger. 103

103(102) Stroma with a brown hyphal mat between perithecial necks. Spores 19-27 × 10-14µm. _Hypocopra equorum_ (fig. 32) - Stroma with white hyphae between black perithecial necks, becoming smooth. Spores 23-25 × 12-14µm. _Hypocopra brefeldii_

104(101) Ascospores up to 15µm wide. 105 - Ascospores 15µm or wider. 106

105(104) Ascospores 25-31 × 10-15µm, distinctly flattened on one side. Ascus plug blue in KI, but becoming reddish. _Hypocopra planispora_ - Ascospores 26-32 × 13-14µm, ellipsoid and narrowed towards their ends. _Hypocopra stephanophora_

106(104) Ascospores 27-43 × 16-20µm. _Hypocopra merdaria_ - Ascospores 38-50 × 19-24µm. _Hypocopra stercoraria_

107(100) Spores up to 10µm long. 108 - Spores 10µm or longer. 109

108(107) Asci 8-spored. Spores 8 × 4µm. _Sordaria minima_ - Asci ca 128-spored. Spores 5-8 × 4-5µm. _Sordaria polyspora_

109(107) Spores relatively narrow, at least twice as long as wide, 22-26 × 9-12µm. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. _Sordaria alcina_ - Spores relatively broad, less than twice as long as wide. 110

110(109) Spores mostly 25µm or longer. 111 - Spores up to 25µm long. 112

111(110) Spores (21)23-29(30) × 14.5-17(18)µm, with apiculate base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 240-300 × 20-24µm. _Sordaria superba_ - Spores (26)28-35 × (17)18-22µm, with slightly apiculate base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 280-350 × 30-35µm. _Sordaria macrospora_

112(110) Spores with gelatinous sheath absent or very thin, 19.5-25 × 15.5-19µm. _Sordaria humana_ (fig. 33) - Spores with gelatinous sheath, up to 15µm diam. 113

113(112) Spores obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 18-23 × 12-15µm. _Sordaria lappae_ - Spores ellipsoid, 17-25 × 10-14µm. _Sordaria fimicola_ (fig. 33)