A SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF THE TRIBE THELEBOLEAE (= PSEUDOASCOBOLEAE)

Abstract

Examination of genera of the Pseudoascoboleae (Ascomycetes, Discomycetes, Ascobolaceae) revealed that many were polytypic. Characters presently used to distinguish these genera are considered to be artificial and true relationships cut across accepted generic lines. Of the genera treated, Thecotheus and parts of Ascophanus , since their asci blue in iodine and their spores bear callose‐pectic markings, are considered more closely related to the Pezizeae. Other genera are excluded from the Pseudoascoboleae because of other striking characters. Since the Pseudoascoboleae is shown to be an artificial grouping, it is proposed to abandon the name, using instead the tribe name Theleboleae, placed in the Pezizaceae rather than the Ascobolaceae, for all of those genera with asci that do not blue in iodine, with smooth, elliptical spores without oil guttules, and with eight‐spored and multispored species. Four new genera are described: Iodophanus , for species of Ascophanus with iodine‐positive asci; Coprotus , for segments of Ascophanus and Ryparobius; Caccobius , for species intermediate to Ascozonus and Thelebolus; and Trichobolus , for the setose members of Thelebolus. The species of Ryparobius not belonging to Coprotus are transferred to Thelebolus.