Genus Siemaszkoa I.I.Tav. & T.Majewski

MB#5028

Mycotaxon 3: 202 (Tavares & Majewski 1976). –

Type species: S. flexa (T.Majewski) I.I.Tav. & T.Majewski

Brief description

Monoecious. Receptacle uniseriate, unbranched, consisting of three or more superposed cells supporting cell VI and the perithecium. Antheridia are sessile, short phialides, on appendages.

Remarks

The genus consists of seven species, of which six in Europe, four in Denmark. The most recently described species are S. ramificans and S. valida (Majewski 1991) . All the species have diminutive thalli and occur on Ptiliidae beetles. In the species descriptions, when we describe the receptacle, it refers to cells from foot to the cell subtending cell VI; this is because the primary septum cannot be identified with certainty.

Key to the Danish species (partially following Majewski 1994b)

1. The perithecium is a continuation of the receptacle axis.................................................................. 2

– The perithecium is lateral to the axis which is formed by the receptacle and the appendage. Perithecium narrowly elongate. Round black spot on the foot ............................... S. ptenidii (Scheloske) I.I.Tav.

2. Appendage unbranched, strongly bent backward in mature thalli; bearing broad sessile antheridia near its base.......................................................................................... S. flexa (T.Majewski) I.I.Tav.

– Appendage branched or, if unbranched, antheridia are the cells of appendage axis themselves which bear lateral short efferent necks ........................................................................................................ 3

3. Appendage directed upwards, unbranched or sparsely branched. Perithecium ovate......................... ............................................................................................................................... S. fennica Huldén

– Appendage branched and directed backwards in mature thalli. Antheridia flask-shaped, borne on the appendage branches. Lower cells of appendage variably inflated and with strongly constricted septa ........................................................................................................... S. ramificans T.Majewski