Its when I examined the reproductive part under the microscope I got confused. in my limited knowledge I interpreted that the fungus is composed of a densely packed layer of tubes which are likely basidia but perhaps ascii, each forming forming ONE terminal spore. I don't know of any basidiomycete which is monosporous, while I wonder if ascomycota form spores this way since usually they are inside an ascus. The remaining alternative is some Myxo (size and habitat OK) but still I'm not sure there were no obvious signs of a plasmodium.

Well the what-so-called basidium is 16-19 x 5um, cylindrical with sinuated-irregular margins, while the spores are 7-8 x 3-3.5 in size, narowly lachrymoid with an acute-pointed end (attachment end) and with few small oil bodies, probably with a smooth surface.

See captions for further details

Stephen Martin Mifsud, 31-10-2016 04:25

Re : Dematiaceous synnematous fungus on bark.

More images

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Alain GARDIENNET, 31-10-2016 07:50

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

I agree, it looks like an hyphomycete.

Good luck to find a name !

Alain

Stephen Martin Mifsud, 31-10-2016 09:05

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

Thank you both - always learning something new :-)

So is there a big possibility that this is not even an Asco?  If you look closely at the 5th pic of the second post I think that those stuctures are clamp junction, and so, this would exclude ascomycetes as somewhere I read that Asco cannot have clamp junctions.  Thanks alan , I need lots of luck - so let's check Hyphomycete !

Stephen Martin Mifsud, 31-10-2016 22:30

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

Ok guys, finally I think I have a name oir this strange species!!!

Penicillium claviforme


Look here one before last photo:
 http://www.tub-collection.com/pic.html

Angel Pintos, 02-11-2016 16:11

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

 I think you can forget also that it is a Penicillium. In Penicillium conidia are borne in chains from phialides.

What I think I see is a Dematiaceous Hyphomycete with conidiogenous cells polyblastic, integrated maybe  sympodial, denticulate.

un saludo 
Angel 

Stephen Martin Mifsud, 02-11-2016 19:44

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

Thanks Pintos angel.

In fact, apart the lack of spores in chains, I was also concerned with the shape of the spores which in penicllium are almost always sugglobuar or globular, but this fungus have narrowly-lachrymoid spores.   I take your suggestion and discard Penicillium.  Any other suggestions are welcomed

Stephen Martin Mifsud, 07-11-2016 16:57

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

Hi,

I am still trying to identify this fungus, at least genus level. I have drawn a representative diagram of what I think I am seeing. See images.

I hope that the stipe structure can be regarded as a coremium


The best guess is somewhere within Stilbaceae (Stilbum, Briosia, Pycnostysanus, Stysanus, Coremium....)

In KOH the fruiting body turns black.

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Stephen Martin Mifsud, 07-11-2016 18:42

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

What about Didymostilbe sp. ?  Is there a monograph available ?
I've cultured on PDA, MEA and Czapek - growth very slow or almost nil.

Angel Pintos, 07-11-2016 19:48

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

Aqi tienes una descripcion abreviada, Didymostilbe conidioforos hialinos, fialides hialinas, las fotos que pones son pigmentadas
Angel

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Stephen Martin Mifsud, 08-11-2016 09:03

Re : Asco or Myxo ?

Thanks for you scan and you are probably right, not everything match up with that genus, although only by few characters. Does the book mention closely related genera?


Unfortunately, now I am running out of options. I think that I have checked all the 'important' genera of Stilbaceae, and I can't think of another Family for this synnematous ascomycete. (Tuberculariacea maybe?).  I still have some specimens to share, and if someone is interested to check just email me  your postal address on [marz @ nextgen .net .mt] (remove spaces) and I will send some material - as it can have a potential to be a new species to science from the M altese islands / Central Mediterranean. It is distantly related to Seifertia (=Briosia) azaleae  a pathogen of Rhododendron.


Regards