Octospora gemmicola

A small muscicolous ascomycete associated with Bryum or Gemmabryum, with disc- to small cup-shaped apothecia 1–2 mm in diameter, vivid orange, with a slightly dentate whitish margin.

Medullary excipulum of textura intricata, with densely interwoven filamentous hyphae, hyaline, thin- to moderately thick-walled, 3–7 µm wide.

Marginal hyphae of textura porrecta, with parallel chains of rectangular to angular hyphae having slightly clavate, expanded tips.

Asci cylindrical, operculate, 8-spored, measuring 170–250 µm long by 18–22 µm wide, with biseriate spore arrangement in the upper half becoming uniseriate below, with basal croziers, inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Paraphyses filiform, septate, apically slightly swollen (3–8 µm wide) and somewhat curved to sinuous, filled with small orange carotenoid granules responsible for their coloration, projecting slightly above the asci.

Ascospores ellipsoidal to subfusiform, smooth, hyaline, simple- and thin-walled, measuring 23–27 µm long by 10–12 µm wide, containing 1 to 3 large oil guttules accompanied by smaller droplets.

Herbarium material available: JTP2709/25.