<i>Buergenerula spartinae</i> sp. nov., an Ascomycete from salt marsh cordgrass, <i>Spartina alterniflora</i>

Abstract

Comparisons between the marine wood-inhabiting Ascomycete Sphaerulina pedicellata Johnson and a similar species from Spartina spp. demonstrate that the two fungi are not identical. The species from Spartina, described as Buergenerula spartinae sp. nov., is compared with the type species of the genus, B. biseptata (Rostrup) Sydow. Buergenerula spartinae is characterized by hyphopodia, periphyses, pseudoparaphyses, unitunicate, thick-walled asci with a non-amyloid, ring-like apical apparatus, and clavate, three-septate, hyaline ascospores. Sphaerulina pedicellata is considered a doubtful species.