Fungi from palms. XXXX. Notes on Amphisphaeria species described from palms and a description of A. umbrina

Five species of Amphisphaeria (Amphisphaeriaceae, Ascomycota) described from palms are examined and compared with the type species, Amphisphaeria umbrina, which is redescribed and illustrated. In Amphisphaeria globose ascomata are immersed under an erumpent darkened clypeus with a central ostiole. Paraphyses are hypha-like, very irregular, numerous, septate and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci are 8-spored, cylindrical, pedicellate, unitunicare and apically rounded, with a J +, discoid, subapical ring. Ascospores are ellipsoidal, brown, equally bicellular, smooth-walled and may be sheathed in mucilage. Bleptosporium pleurochaetum has been found in association with Amphisphaeria argentinensis, but there is no published proven connection. Of the so far described palmicolous species, Amphisphaeria arengae and A. palmicola are reidentified as Seynesia nobills, A. phoenicis is Kirschsteiniothelia aethiops, A. serrulata is Arecophila serrulata, while the identity of A. cocoes is uncertain.