more black balls

[diggleken]

last today!
Is this possibly diatrype disciformis? - that was the nearest I could get in Jordan.
very tiny. needed mag to see it properly.
Growing on rotting sycamore branch.

Thanks
Ken

[Chris Yeates]

hi Ken

Diatrype disciformis is a very different beast and (nearly?) always on beech; it's not that easy to see but there appear to be minute black 'bristles' among the perithecia

I suspect that you have Chaetosphaerella phaeostroma or something very like it

fruitbodies with 'bristles', and an ascus with the characteristic ascospores:



cheers

Chris

[diggleken]

Thanks Chris,
yes it does indeed look like Chaetosphaerella phaeostroma in that pic - but I cant find any detailed description anywhere - at risk of abusing your help yet again(!) - where might I find such details?
Cheers
Ken

[CapAndBracket]

From Ellis+Ellis

Perithecia seated on a dark blackish brown to black velvety mycelial mat
which also bears the conidiophores of the Oedemium conidial state and
sometimes dark brown to black setae. Asci 8 spored, Ascospores 3 septate,
smooth, with 2 median cells brown and end cells hayaline.
Frequently found growing on stromata of diatypaceous fungi, especially
Diatrype stigma and Eutypa flavovirens.

Well done matey for bringing this to my attention, never noticed it before
but probably passed it a hundred times.

Cheers J.P.

[diggleken]

cheers JP - a first for me too - very pretty when you get a magnifier on it!
As far as just black can be that is!
Ken