Spiromastix grisea sp.nov. and its relationship to other Onygenaceae with helical appendages

Abstract

Spiromastix grisea sp.nov. is described and illustrated based on cultures obtained from gazelle dung collected in central Sahara, Africa. Spiromastix grisea is similar to the type of Spiromastix, S. warcupii, in having thick-walled helical appendages, a loose, meshlike peridium of thin-walled hyphae, and minute, oblate ascospores. The new species differs from the type in having greyish brown rather than yellow brown ascomata, longer helical appendages, and larger ascospores, which are punctate only in the equatorial zone. The species of Spiromastix can be distinguished from other genera in the Onygenaceae with helical appendages (Ajellomyces, Apinisia, Kuehniella, and Shanorella) on the basis of differences in morphology of peridial hyphae, ascospores, and appendages. The species of Spiromastix lack anamorphs..