Discina melaleuca

Species found under both broadleaf trees and conifers (the specimen studied was collected from an exhibition, hence in-situ habitat photographs are unavailable), with cerebriform ascomata 2–8 cm across, greyish-brown, brittle, with a stipe-like base (pseudostipe) and a cream-coloured outer surface.

Medullary excipulum of textura intricata, with disorderly interwoven hyphae 5–14 µm wide.

Ectal excipulum of textura globulosa-angularis with cells 15–35 µm in diameter, outermost hyphae ending in hyphoid hairs 5–10 µm wide.

Asci cylindrical, operculate, 8-spored, measuring 310–350 µm long by 12–15 µm wide, with uniseriate to slightly irregular spore arrangement, inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Paraphyses cylindrical, septate, with slight apical enlargements (6–8 µm wide), densely filled with greyish-brown granular contents, projecting slightly above the asci.

Ascospores ellipsoidal, hyaline, moderately thick-walled and delicately verruculose, measuring 16–23 µm long by 7.5–12 µm wide, predominantly containing two large oil guttules inside.

Note: Spores in this study are slightly larger than typical literature values (15–20 × [7.5] 9–10 [11] µm), likely owing to post-mature spores.

Herbarium material available: JTP2464/25.