Flora of New Zealand Series

Type : Phaeocalicium praecedens (Nyl.) A.F.W.Schmidt [=Calicium praecedens Nyl.]

Description : Saprophytic or parasitic. Ascomata apothecia, well-stalked, black to brownish black, capitulum obovoid to lenticular or strongly compressed. Exciple well-developed, of dark-brown, periclinally arranged hyphae. Hymenium covered by a thin layer of dark-brown hyphae. Stalk consisting of periclinally arranged, dark-brown to aeruginose or pale hyphae. Asci cylindrical, 70–100 μm long, formed singly from ascogenous hyphae with croziers. Ascus apex strongly and uniformly thickened or with a short, blunt canal, persisting until spore maturity. Mazedium absent. Ascospores simple or 1-septate, ellipsoidal with rounded apices, uniseriate in ascus, 10–18 × 4–6 μm; wall rather thick, dark-brown, smooth or warty, not rupturing at maturity.

Phaeocalicium is a genus of 17 widespread species (Tibell & Ryan 2004d) included in the family Mycocaliciaceae (Tibell 1997, 1998a; Wedin & Tibell 1997; Eriksson et al. 2004; Pennycook & Galloway 2004; Eriksson 2005). The present position of this family is uncertain. Species of Phaeocalicium occur predominantly as parasites or saprophytes on twigs of trees and shrubs in temperate areas. Species are usually confined to one genus of host, of which the following are currently known: Alnus, Betula, Coprosma, Populus, Rhus and Salix. One species occurs on polypore fungi. P. asciiforme is one of only two species known from the Southern Hemisphere (Tibell 1987, 1998a), and is endemic to New Zealand (Tibell 1987: 200–201).