A re-description of Xylaria phosphorea

Abstract

Xylaria phosphorea, originally described from Australia, is a species rarely reported in the mycological literature. A collection from Sri Lanka is therefore used to reassess its morphology compared to the type material and one of its synonyms. The Xylaria presented here is characterised by an orange-brown stromatal surface, mammiform perithecial outlines with distinct papillate to conical black ostioles and reddish-brown fusiform ascospores. The present paper serves to re-describe this species in detail, to summarise information about it and to illustrate it in colour.