Part 5

114(3) Spores 20-28 × 12-16µm, with subacute ends, each with a germ pore. _Gelasinospora adjuncta_ - Spores larger. 115

115(114) Asci 4-spored. Spores 24-29 × 15-18µm, with rounded ends and one germ pore. _Gelasinospora tetrasperma_ - Asci 8-spored. Spores 26-3 _Gelasinospora cerealis_

116(4) Perithecia orange to golden, often gregarious, almost spherical, necks ca 50µm diam., 15µm high, setae at ostiole hyaline, up to 35 × 3µm. Spores limoniform, with a germ pore at each end, 15-25 × 9-16µm. _Sphaerodes fimicola_ (fig. 33) - Perithecia yellow or reddish brown (darker when filled with mature spores), neck 50µm long, with setae at the ostiole 40-70µm long. Spores dark brown to black, limoniform, 20-34 × 11-17µm, with apical germ pore. _Melanospora brevirostris_

117(2) Asci more than 8-spored. see Key 1 at 86 - Asci with 8 or fewer spores, or asci evanescent, not readily observed. 118

118(117) Perithecia orange/yellow, 500-1000µm diam. Spores long (over 45µm) or 2-celled if shorter. 119 - Perithecia smaller, or black or with a neck. Spores shorter (less than 20µm) or septate if longer. 120

119(118) Perithecia orange, 500-1000µm diam., in small groups on a limited stroma. Spores thick walled, 48-60 × 22-26µm, with a gelatinous sheath. _Selinia pulchra_ - Perithecia orange yellow, superficial, ca 500µm diam., with ostiole in a disc surrounded by silvery triangular tufts of hyphae ca 100µm long. Spores ellipsoid, 1-septate, 12-14 × 4-5µm. _Nectria suffulta_

120(118) Perithecia reddish brown or pale, hyaline, with a distinct neck. 121 - Perithecia black. 131

121(120) Perithecia globose, up to 250µm diam., immersed, reddish brown, with a neck 1-3 mm long. Asci broad ellipsoid, 5-8.5µm, rapidly breaking down and difficult to see. Spores ellipsoid-allantoid. 5.5-7 × 1.5-2µm, collecting in a pearly droplet at the fringed tip of the perithecial beak. _Viennotidia fimicola_ (fig. 34) - Perithecia pyriform, very pale in colour, 60-200µm diam., with a neck 60-700µm long. Asci rarely visible. Spores pointed-fusiform, 1-3 septate, often with a sheath and clumped together in fascicles. (_Pyxidiophora_, fig. 36) 122

122(121) Neck 95-145µm long, brown, rugose, with cells arranged in 5-6 longitudinal rows visible in one view. Spores 38-52µm long. _Pyxidiophora badiorostris_ - Neck not brown or rugose, composed of hyaline, irregularly arranged cylindrical cells. 123

123(122) Spores less than 45µm long. 124 - Spores more than 45µm long. 125

124(123) Spores 35-45µm long, with brown apical or subapical patches of pigment. _Pyxidiophora brunneocapitatus_ - Spores 35-43µm long, without brown apical or subapical patches of pigment. _Pyxidiophora microsporus_

125(123) Spores mostly 45-60µm long. 126 - Spores mostly longer than 60µm. 129

126(125) Perithecia 70-100µm diam., neck 100-190µm long. Spores (43)48-58(65)µm long. _Pyxidiophora grovei_ - Perithecia usually less than 80µm diam. 127

127(126) Perithecial necks mostly less than 100µm long. Spores (45)48-57(60)µm long. _Pyxidiophora arvernensis_ - Perithecial necks up to 200µm long. 128

128(127) Spores 45-53µm long. _Pyxidiophora petchii_ (fig. 36) - Spores 53-65µm long. _Pyxidiophora schotterianus_

129(125) Spores 60-70µm long. 130 - Spores (75)80-90(100)µm. Perithecia 120-160µm diam., neck 220-370µm long. _Pyxidiophora bainemensis_

130(129) Perithecial necks 300-700µm long. Spores 60-70µm. Perithecia 100-120µm diam. _Pyxidiophora spinuliformis_ - Perithecial necks 225-265µm long. Spores 65-70µm. Perithecia 110-125µm diam. _Pyxidiophora marchalii_

131(120) Perithecia small, up to 400µm diam., with hairy necks. Spores hyaline or pale, coppery-red en masse, extruded in tendrils. 132 - Perithecia larger, without hairy necks. If smaller than 200µm, with spores smaller than 5 × 3µm. 134

132(131) Spores reniform, with gelatinous sheath, 3.5 × 2-3µm, yellow, reddish brown _en masse_ in extruded tendrils. Asci spherical, evanescent. Perithecia black, spherical, 200-400µm diam., with cylindrical neck up to 300µm long, with sparse pointed hairs. _Microascus longirostris_ - Spores larger, not reniform. Perithecia up to 300µm diam. 133

133(132) Perithecial necks long, up to 750µm, with terminal hairs up to 1500µm, curved or circinate at tips. Spores limoniform, 7-10.5 × 5.5-7µm. _Lophotrichus ampullus_ - Perithecial necks short, ca 50µm, with long straight tapering hairs. Spore shape limoniform/variable, 6-7.5 × 5-5.5µm, with prominent germ pores. _Lophotrichus bartletti_

134(131) Perithecia up to 150µm diam., immersed but for a conical neck 50-75µm high. Asci 50 × 2-2.5µm. Spores minute, cylindrical, 3.5-4.5 × 1.75-2.5µm. _Phomatospora coprophila_ (fig. 35) - Perithecia more obvious, often hairy, or tomentose when young. Immature spores up to 70µm long, wavy cylindrical, with a row of globules inside and a short thin appendage at each end. (see _Cercophora_, 49)

135(1) Perithecia immersed, surrounded at the neck by a very limited flange-like stroma which is easily overlooked. see _Hypocopra_, 101 or if orange see _Selinia_, 119 - Stroma very conspicuous. 136

136(135) Perithecia in a subglobose group at the tip of the stromatic stalk. Spores with germ slit and gelatinous sheath. (_Podosordaria_) 137 - Perithecia not in a terminal head. 139

137(136) Stalk short, 3-5mm. Spores (12)14-19 × 6-9µm, slightly flattened on one side. _Podosordaria leporina_ - Stalk long, 1-6cm. Spores larger. 138

138(137) Spores 21-24 × 11-12µm. Stromatic stalk hairy. _Podosordaria tulasnei_ - Spores 40-60 × 20-30µm. Stromatic stalk not hairy. _Podosordaria pedunculata_

139(136) Stroma externally black, rooted or partially immersed in the dung, expanding at the surface to form a white disc up to 15mm diam., punctate with black perithecial ostioles. (_Poronia_) 140 - Stroma not as above. 141

140(139) Spores 18-26 × 7-12µm, bean shaped, with gelatinous sheath. Stroma deeply rooted. Especially on horse dung. _Poronia punctata_ - Spores (22)25-32(35) × (12)14-18µm, oblong ellipsoid to slightly fusiform. Stroma not deeply rooted. Especially on rabbit dung near the sea. _Poronia erici_

141(139) Stroma spreading over surface of dung or filamentous. Spores ellipsoid to slightly flattened on one side, with germ slit. (Xerophilic fungi developing after long periods of relatively dry incubation). (_Wawelia_) 142 - Stroma clavate, black, partly immersed to superficial, usually aggregated in small groups, ca 1-1.5mm high × 0.6-0.7mm diam., each containing a single perithecium. Spores ellipsoid with germ pore and gelatinous sheath. (_Bombardioidea_) 146

142(141) Stroma spreading on substrate, black brown, firm but not brittle. Ascomata globose, 0.5-1mm, with white hyphae at neck. Spores broad limoniform, 15-19 × 9-10µm. _Wawelia effusa_ - Perithecia globose to pyriform, black, brown or dark grey, produced laterally along the length of fine stromatal strand growing from the dung. 143

143(142) Asci 4-spored. 144 - Asci 8-spored. 145

144(143) Spores 15-18 × 9-12µm. Perithecia up to 400µm diam., dark grey at maturity, single or clustered, the ostiole with a crown of silvery white hyphae. Stromata up to 30 × 0.1-0.5mm. _Wawelia_ sp. - Spores 6-8 × 4-6µm. Stromata conical, white, 5-12 × 1-2mm. _Wawelia regia_

145(143) Perithecia hairy, globose, 350-500µm diam., stromatal strands up to 25mm long. Spores ellipsoid, flattened on one side, 9-12 × 6-8µm. _Wawelia octospora_ - Perithecia villose with conidiophores, globose, 230-420µm diam., produced laterally on stromatic filaments 20-30 × 0.1-0.3mm. Filaments pink at first, with a white pointed tip, becoming brown, velvety with conidiophores. Spores ellipsoid to flattened on one side, 7.5-9.5 × 3-4.5µm. _Wawelia_ sp. (fig. 37)

146(141) Asci 8-spored. Spores 20-31 × 9.5-15µm. _Bombardioidea bombardioides_ - Asci 4-spored. 147

147(146) Spores 24-34 × 15-19(20)µm. Basal germ pore less distinct than the apical one. _Bombardioidea serignanensis_ - Spores 34-43 × 16-22µm. Distinct germ pore at each end of spore. _Bombardioidea stercoris_

148 Fruit bodies solitary or in small groups, each a (key 1,1) subglobose, fertile, light brown head on a slender sterile stalk. Head soon bursting to expose the yellow ochraceous spore mass. On mixtures of bird droppings, cast pellets and decaying animal material. 149 - Fruit bodies superficial, lacking a distinct stalk. 150

149(148) Spores 5-8 × 2-3µm. Head 1-2mm diam. _Onygena corvina_ (fig. 38) - Spores 7-9 × 4-6µm, 4-5µm. Head 2-4mm diam. _Onygena equina_

150(148) Fruit bodies with an external wall of loosely anastomosing and interwoven hyphae, and with ± specialised terminal cells (GYMNOTHECIA, fig. 39). 151 - Fruit bodies with a well defined parenchymatic wall (CLEISTOTHECIA, fig. 46). 161

151(150) Gymnothecia with simple thin-walled, ± uniform and poorly developed hyphae constituting the outer hyphal sheath. 152 - Gymnothecia with thick-walled hyphae modified at their ends into appendages, or if thin-walled then always accompanied by appendages (i.e. curled, toothed or pointed hyphae). 155

152(151) Gymnothecia red-orange to brick-red. Ascospores orange, subglobose to ellipsoid, with an equatorial furrow, smooth, 4.5-5.5 × 3.5-4.5µm. _Arachniotus ruber_ (fig. 40) - Gymnothecia white or yellow, never orange or brick-red. Ascospores without an equatorial furrow. 153

153(152) Gymnothecia white. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid, smooth, 3-4 × 2-2.5µm. _Arachniotus candidus_ - Gymnothecia distinctly pigmented, yellow or brown. Ascospores larger than 4µm. 154

154(153) Gymnothecia yellow brown. Ascospores orange to brownish, slightly lenticular, smooth or slightly roughened, 5-6.5 × 3.3-4.6µm. _Arachniotus confluens_ - Gymnothecia lemon yellow. Ascospores lemon yellow, lenticular, smooth, 5-6 × 3-4.5µm. _Arachniotus citrinus_

155(151) Gymnothecia possessing only thick pigmented hyphae. 156 - Gymnothecia possessing ± thin, hyaline hyphae with only a few, although often distinctive, appendages (i.e. comb-shaped end cells or dumb-bell shaped asperulate cells accompanying twisted and bent hyphae). 160

156(155) Gymnothecia brown-black or dark greenish-grey, with external hyphae with spine-like branches and septate, hooked appendages. Ascospores orange brownish, ovate, delicately striate, 4-5.2 × 2.4-3.3µm. _Myxotrichum chartarum_ (fig. 41) - Gymnothecia never black, and, if possessing thick-walled hyphae, then appendages never septate. Ascospores smooth, or if ornamented then asperulate or echinulate. 157

157(156) Gymnothecia rose to orange-brown or yellowish. Appendages curved or irregularly branched and pointed, never verticillately branched. Ascospores smooth, or at most asperulate. 158 - Gymnothecia red-brown with appendages verticillately branched. Ascospores 3-4.5 × 2-2.8µm, yellowish brown, lenticular. _Actinodendron verticillatum_

158(157) Gymnothecia rosy pink when young, becoming browner, with spines and curved, non-septate hairs. Ascospores hyaline, globose to subglobose, asperulate, 3-5 × 2.5-4µm. _Gymnoascus californiensis_ (fig. 42) - Gymnothecia yellow. Ascospores smooth. 159

159(158) Gymnothecia yellow to yellow-brown, without elongated appendages but with thick-walled branches, few of which are pointed. Ascospores globose-ellipsoid, yellow to brownish, 3-4.5 × 3.5µm. _Gymnoascus reesii_ (fig. 43) - Gymnothecia golden yellow to reddish-brown, with acute-ended appendages. Ascospores lenticular, smooth, hyaline, 2.5-3.5 × 2-2.5µm. _Pseudogymnoascus roseus_

160(155) Gymnothecia orange brown, with comb-like appendages. Ascospores slightly lenticular, pale orange, 3.3-3.6 × 2-2.6µm. _Ctenomyces serratus_ (fig. 44) - Gymnothecia whitish to pale ochraceous, particularly when dry, with few appendages but those present twisted and bent, and their branches constricted with regular or irregular dumb-bell shaped cells. Hyphal walls asperulate or with protuberances. Ascospores smooth, lenticular, hyaline, 2.4-3.3 × 2µm. _Arthroderma curreyi_ (fig. 45)

161(150) Asci relatively large, 100-200-spored, 1-3/fruit body. 'Cleistothecia' minute, <100 (rarely <250)µm diam., immersed. see _Thelebolus_ etc. (Key 1, 86) - Asci with 8 or fewer spores. 162

162(161) Ascospores purple at maturity, large, 50-70 × 25-35µm, epispore with a few longitudinal cracks. see _Ascobolus immersus_ (Key 1, 48) - Ascospores smaller, hyaline, yellow, olivaceous, brown or black. 163

163(162) Ascospores olivaceous, brown or black, at least in part. 164 - Ascospores aseptate, hyaline, yellow or other pale colours. 174

164(163) Ascospores 4-celled (cf. _Sporormiella_), with germ slits, readily fragmenting. Asci clavate, bitunicate. Cleistothecia black, shiny, up to 500µm diam. 165 - Ascospores 1- or 2-celled. 166

165(164) Ascus stalk up to 20µm long. Ascospores 25-32 × 5µm. _Preussia vulgaris_ - Ascus stalk 30-60µm long. Ascospores 26-38 × 5-7µm. _Preussia funiculata_ (fig. 47)

166(164) Ascospores 2-celled. 167 - Ascospores 1-celled. 170

167(166) Spores unequally 2-celled, one brown ellipsoid, with an apical germ pore, 10-12 × 6.5-7.5µm, the other a basal hyaline, cylindrical pedicel, 6-8 × 3µm. Cleistothecia black, globose, up to 250µm diam., covered with flexuous brown hairs up to 1mm long. Asci evanescent. _Zopfiella erostrata_ - Spores equally 2-celled. 168

168(167) Spores not constricted at the septum, ellipsoid, golden-brown, 25-30 × 10-15µm with 1-3 guttules in each cell. Cleistothecia gregarious on a mycelial mat, whitish to pale orange, up to 500µm diam. _Heleococcum aurantiacum_ (fig. 48) - Spores hyaline, divided into two almost globose cells by the constricting septum. Ascomata superficial, globose, dark coloured. (_Mycoarachis_) 169

169(168) Asci 8-spored, 5.5-11µm diam. Spores 5-5.5 × 3-3.5µm. _Mycoarachis inversa_ - Asci 4-spored, 6-6.5µm diam. Spores 4.5-5 × 2-2.5µm. _Mycoarachis tetraspora_

170(166) Asci broad-clavate, (1)-2-(3)-spored, 30-50 × 13-18µm. Spores brown-black with short ridges and warts, subglobose, 12-15.5 × 11-12.5µm, with a single germ pore. _Copromyces bisporus_ (fig. 49) - Asci 8-spored. 171

171(170) Spores globose, sooty brown, 3µm diam. Cleistothecia gregarious, with basal spirally coiled appendages, black, 100-200µm diam., partially immersed in a white to red felty hyphal mat. _Pleuroascus nicholsonii_ - Spores larger, ellipsoid or limoniform. 172

172(171) Spores olivaceous, limoniform, usually with an apical germ pore. Perithecia greyish or greenish, abundantly hairy, branched or simple, straight or curly. Asci pedicellate, soon disappearing. see _Chaetomium_ at 5 - Spores darker, with 1 or more minute germ pores. Cleistothecia distinctly but not abundantly hairy. 173

173(172) Spores smoky brown, broadly ovoid, 9-14 × 6-9µm. Cleistothecial hairs short, up to 30µm. _Thielavia wareingii_ - Spores dark brown, flattened limoniform, 13-16 × 10-13 × 8-9µm. Cleistothecial hairs of two types, some smooth, dark brown, arising from the base up to 3mm long, others greyish green, rough, up to ca 120µm. _Thielavia fimeti_

174(163) Cleistothecia produced within a common arachnoid mycelial mass. Spores smooth or minutely asperulate, yellow to yellow-brown, broadly ellipsoid, 4-5 × 3-5µm. _Aphanoascus fulvescens_ - Cleistothecia single or gregarious, but not on or in a mycelial mass. 175

175(174) Cleistothecia 170-750µm diam., covered with long (several mm when extended), thick-walled, aseptate, helical appendages. Asci clavate cylindrical, evanescent, 35-62 × 12-21µm. Spores ellipsoid, hyaline, 12-17 × 9-12µm. _Lasiobolidium spirale_ - Cleistothecia without coiled appendages. 176

176(175) Cleistothecia with hairs or appendages. 177 - Cleistothecia smooth. 178

177(176) Cleistothecia black, shining, 100-200µm diam., with dark brown-black thick-walled hairs with hooked tips. Asci 8-15µm diam. Spores straw or copper coloured, ellipsoid, 4-7 × 3.5-4.5µm with de Bary bubble and a germ pore at each end. _Kernia nitida_ - Cleistothecia reddish brown, less than 1mm diam., with long simple appendages curled at the tips. Spores hyaline, oblate, 3.55 × 2-3µm. _Arachnomyces nitidus_ (fig. 50)

178(176) Ascospores globose, larger than 9µm. 179 - Ascospores ellipsoid, up to 9µm. Asci always subglobose. 180