Torrendiella (Ascomycota, Helotiales) on Nothofagus

Abstract

Six species of Torrendiella are described and illustrated from Nothofagus, and a key is provided for their identification. T. madsenii occurs on wood in Australia, New Zealand, and southem South America, and although its host range is uncertain, may it be confined to Nothofagus. The other five species form fruiting bodies on fallen leaves, are restricted to Nothofagus, and all are described here as new. Two of these species occur only in southem South America, T. andina (on N. betuloides and N. dombeyi) and T. grisea (on N. dombeyi). Three species occur only in New Zealand, T. brevisetosa (on N. menziesii), T. cannibalensis (on N. menziesii), and T. dingleyae (on N. fusca, N. menziesii, N. solandri var. cliffortioides, and N. truncata). The occurrence of an additional species on N. cunninghamii hm Australia is noted, but it is not formally described because of lack of good material. Torrendiella is accepted as a member of the Sclerotiniaceae, distinct from Zoellneria. It is characterised by the possession of excipular setae and a three-layered ectal excipulum, the central layer of which is gelatinous. The complex excipular structure and the presence of gelatinous tissue suggests a relationship with Rutstroemia. T. eucalypti (Berk) Spooner is interpreted in a restricted sense as an Acacia-specialised species. © 2000 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.