Lophodermium gramineum

Substrate: Saprotrophic on decaying grass culms (Poaceae), producing blackish ascomata 0.4-1 mm long, opening through a longitudinal slit to discharge spores.

Asci: Cylindric-clavate, unitunicate, 8-spored, spores arranged in parallel to slightly interwoven, 55-85 x 7-11 µm, without basal croziers (simple base), inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Paraphyses: Filiform, slender, hyaline, septate, 1-1.5 µm thick, lacking branches or apical swellings, with distinctly curved ends.

Ascospores: Filiform, acicular, with pointed and occasionally slightly curved ends, 30-60 x 1.5-2 µm, containing minute oil droplets.

Notes: Also occurring on grass stems are congeneric Lophodermium arundinaceum (with longer spores, 50-90 µm) and Lophodermium culmigenum (spores slightly larger and asci considerably longer, 100-125 µm).

Herbarium vouchers: JTP2277/24 and 2422/25.