STUDIES OF COPROPHILOUS ASCOMYCETES: II PHAEOTRICHUM, A NEW CLEISTOCARPOUS GENUS IN A NEW FAMILY, AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract

Phaeotrichum hystricinum Cain and Barr is described from specimens collected in Ontario, Vermont, New York, and Michigan and is made the type species of a new genus. It has been found on porcupine dung from numerous localities. The black, shining, superficial ascocarps are covered with scattered straight black appendages. The clavate stalked asci are in irregular fascicles, eight spored, and with a firm wall which is evanescent at maturity. The ascospores are two-celled, thick-walled, deeply constricted, and readily separating at the transverse septum. There is a large conspicuous germ pore at each end of the ascospore. P. circinatum Cain is described from specimens collected on lemming dung in Northern Ungava, Quebec. This species is distinguished from the former by means of the appendages, which are stouter and curved at the apex. These two species are closely related and very similar to the ostiolate Trichodelitschia bisporula (Crouan) Munk. The new genus is made the type of a new family of cleistocarpous Ascoloculares, with a discussion on the evolution, in many Ascomycete taxa, of cleistocarps adapted either to the utilization of special agencies, rather than air currents, for carrying the ascospores or to delayed dispersal.