Tolypocladium capitatum

A parasitic fungus on Elaphomyces, those in the present study on Elaphomyces granulatus, with a long yellow stipe and a thick globose head (matchstick-like), blackish-brown, 4 to 8 cm in total height, with a head 0.5 to 1 cm wide, and with yellow flesh (context) on cutting.

Perithecia embedded in the surface of the head, 0.7 to 1 mm long and 0.3 to 0.5 mm wide, housing the asci inside.

Supporting context hyphae filamentous, hyaline, septate, thin- to moderately thick-walled, arranged parallel to slightly interwoven, 3.5 to 6 µm wide.

Asci cylindrical to filiform, 8-spored, 300 to 350 µm long, 10 to 12 µm wide, with spores arranged in parallel within the ascus, tending to break into part-spores before discharge, with a characteristically slightly thickened apex.

Ascospores (part-spores), cylindrical, hyaline, smooth, slightly thick-walled, 18 to 29 µm long, 2.5 to 4 µm wide, containing abundant oil droplets inside.

Herbarium material available: JTP2672/25.