Nemania serpens

A widespread, cosmopolitan species with black stromata up to 4–5 cm long, subglobose perithecia 0.5–0.7 mm in diameter, and prominent, conical, black ostioles.

Asci cylindrical, long-stipitate, 8-spored, with uniseriate spores (occasionally slightly overlapping towards the apex), measuring 135–170 µm long by 6–8 µm wide, with a dextrinoid reaction in the inverted hat-shaped apical apparatus, measuring 2–2.8 µm wide by 2.7–3.5 µm high.

Paraphyses scattered, hyaline, filiform, smooth-walled, projecting considerably above the asci.

Ascospores subcylindrical to ellipsoidal, inequilateral, some even slightly allantoid, olivaceous-brown under the microscope, measuring 11.5–14 µm long by 4.3–5.5 µm wide, with a short, inconspicuous germ slit on the less convex side.

Nemania serpens var. colliculosa shares an identical macro- and micromorphology but exhibits an amyloid apical ring; some authors treat it as Nemania colliculosa, an epithet recognised by Index Fungorum but often synonymised with Nemania serpens.

Herbarium material available: JTP2078/24.