Hi there,

I recently noticed tiny, reddish perithecioid ascomata on dying Sphagnum cf. capillifolium in Scotland.

Ascomata perithecioid, dark red when moist, blackening when dry, ostiole depressed, up to 200um diam., peridium made of a rather thin layer of interwoven hyphae (not textura cellularis). Asci 8-spored, seemingly inamyloid, 95–115 x 10.5–12um in water. Paraphyses filiform, multicellular, branched sparsely with lipid or other inlusion bodies in the lower cells. Spores aseptate, hyaline, multiguttulate at maturity, subglobose, 9.9–10.6 x 9–9.7um. Hyphae hyaline, profuse at the base of the ascomata and running over and into host cells. Probably not lichenised but unsure as some clumps of green algae were present.

At this point, I have no idea even of the class of this collection, though I suspect some kind of Sordariomycete member. Any suggestions on what it might be would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
George