Chapter I: Part 1

Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Corrigendum applied at the wish of the principle author: in Key 3 the pointers to couplets 56 and 66 were the wrong way round and have been corrected in this edition.

* * * * *

KEYS TO FUNGI ON DUNG

by

M. J. RICHARDSON 165 Braid Road, EDINBURGH EH10 6JE

and

ROY WATLING Royal Botanic Garden, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR

Published by the British Mycological Society
PO Box 30, Stourbridge
West Midlands DY9 9PZ

© British Mycological Society 1997

Printed in Scotland by BPC-AUP Aberdeen Ltd

ISBN 0 9527704 2 3

The first edition of these keys was published in the _Bulletin of the
British Mycological Society_ 2, 18-43 (1968) and 3, 86-88, 121-124 (1969)
in an attempt to bring together in one place information for the
identification of coprophilous fungi which would be useful to teachers
and others interested in these fungi. They were issued as a separate
publication in 1972, and with corrections in 1974. They were reprinted in
1982 with additions. This latest edition is an update of all the earlier
ones, with current nomenclature and recent references, and the inclusion
of some additional species.

M.J.R.
R.W.
December 1996

INTRODUCTION

Coprophilous fungi are highly satisfactory for demonstrating the diversity and morphology of a group of related organisms within an ecological system. Representative genera of most major groups of fungi can usually be guaranteed to appear on dung after a period of incubation. There is no shortage of dung in our fields and woods, and this material will always produce characteristic fungi at whatever time of year it is collected.

Dung is best incubated in a light place, for example on a table in a warm room, on layers of moist filter paper or other absorbent material. For rabbit pellets, and samples of similar size, Petri dishes are ideal; for horse 'apples', and larger types of dung, large covered dishes such as glass casseroles, plastic sandwich boxes or yoghurt pots are needed. The top third cut from a plastic lemonade or mineral water bottle fits neatly in a Petri dish, and replacing the screw cap with a cotton wool plug allows aeration and gives adequate height for developing basidiomycetes. Samples should not be kept in airtight containers for any length of time after collection, as in such conditions insects and nematodes tend to break down the dung, and anaerobic conditions which do not favour the fungi rapidly develop. If they cannot be set to incubate soon after collection they can be gently air dried, as most dung fungi will remain alive after such treatment and grow out when the sample is eventually moistened. The absorbent material should be kept moist. Although free water will not allow the best development of ascomycetes, the succession of basidiomycetes appears to vary with the wetness of the dung. Earthworms and insect larvae should be excluded from the samples as far as possible, for they break up the dung too much; activity of the latter can be reduced by spraying lightly with a household insecticide. If space is limited and cultures are kept nearby, it is very important to prevent mite infestation. Containers can be isolated by placing on glass plates lightly smeared with Vaseline, to which an acaricide (e.g. methyl benzoate) can be added.

Fungi are best sought with a stereoscopic binocular microscope, when their full beauty will be seen, but a hand lens or simple magnifier, although less convenient, is sufficient for all but the smallest forms. The larger ascomycetes and most of the basidiomycetes are readily seen with the unaided eye, but the binocular microscope is still very useful for observing the gross features of the veil of the basidiomycetes. Perithecia, apothecia and similar structures can be removed with fine needles or forceps quite cleanly for mounting, initially in water, on slides. Subsequent irrigation with iodine solution will allow any reaction of ascus wall, tip or pore to be observed, and mounting in diluted Indian ink can enhance the visibility of appendages, caudae and sheaths which occur on some spores. Spore discharge in the ascomycetes often occurs from mature asci when material is mounted in water, so mature spores can immediately be seen. Many of the coprophilous toadstools (agarics), because of their small size and/or rapidly deliquescent nature, often do not give spore prints in the normal way, but mature spores can usually be found on the stipe or in natural spore prints formed on the absorbent material on which the dung is supported. For accurate identification the ability to measure the size of spores and other structures will be necessary. Basic microscopical technique and mycological knowledge is assumed. Common species are well described and illustrated in popular books, and references are given to specialist works to allow descriptions of less common species to be found. It will be necessary to refer to these for critical taxa. Although this edition contains about one half more species than the 1982 edition, there are still many species to be described and new records and observations to be made, especially in the Ascomycotina.

Four keys are presented. Keys 1 and 2 (MJR) are to the coprophilous ascomycetes, a very diverse group which, although not covering all the possible types of reproductive structure found in the class, contains many of the important types. The information for the identification of these fungi is dispersed throughout the literature, and many new species are still being discovered and described. Some appear to be world-wide in their distribution, others more restricted, with a prevalence of reports from either arctic, temperate or tropical regions. These keys are not exhaustive, since there are far too many species to make it practical to include them all. They do, however, include most genera, and the commoner or well known species of temperate regions. Specific (and even generic) limits in some cases (e.g. _Coprotus_ / _Ascophanus_ / _Ryparobius_ / _Thelebolus_) are still the subject of debate and the choice of names to use in the key for a few taxa has been a compromise. Key 2 includes the original 'plectomycete' key (RW), which contains fungi which may not be strictly coprophilous in the normal sense, but fungi which occur on hair, horn, bone and cadavers, and may thus be found on carnivore dung or pellets of owls and other birds of prey.

Key 3 (RW, p. 52) is to the basidiomycetes of dung and associated debris. The part of the key dealing with the agarics attempts to be as complete as possible. Since the toadstools have always been thought of as the best known of the coprophilous fungi, attention to their taxonomy has often been careless. In this key the opportunity has been taken to adopt a rather narrow species concept, and to provide in certain places indications of where distinct taxa, even autonomous species, may be found after further laboratory work. Many of these types have been cultured and appear to differ vegetatively in ways which support observations of gross morphology. Coprophilous agarics are popular material for genetic studies and additional information on veil structure, spore number etc. of individual species is given, even when these are not 'key characters'.

Key 4 (MJR, p. 63) is to the Zygomycota (phycomycetes) which are characteristic of dung and amongst the first to appear when freshly dropped dung is incubated. They soon disappear, however, but their fruiting can be prolonged by plating small portions of dung on a nutrient medium (e.g. potato carrot or potato dextrose agar) to which has been added a small amount of antibiotic to reduce bacterial growth. This method is especially suitable for the parasitic and predacious fungi. A cultural approach is essential for the identification of many of these fungi and the above media, and oatmeal agar, are suitable for culture as well as isolation. For this reason the study of this group of fungi is less easy than that of the ascomycetes and basidiomycetes but, because the asexual stages are characteristic, we have attempted to key out the commoner genera which might be found, with notes on common species. The asexual spores are sporangiospores formed in sporangia; some sporangia produce a single spore within a closely fitting sporangium, and have in the past been erroneously described as conidia. A great range of sporangial structure occurs within the orders concerned. The classical structure is the massive (up to 250µm diam.) multispored sporangium with an internal columella which remains after the spores have been dispersed (e.g. _Mucor_); those of _Mortierella_ are similar, but smaller and without a columella. Other sporangia are much reduced and may be only 10-20µm diam., and contain only a small number of spores (_Thamnidium_) or one spore (_Chaetocladium_); these small globose structures are termed sporangioles. Spores may also form in chains; the chains are in terminal groups and are formed by the differentiation of the contents of cylindrical sporangia which are considered to be part-sporangia (merosporangia). When the sporangial wall has disappeared the spore chains may remain discrete and intact, or they may collapse into a wet droplet of spores (_Syncephalastrum_, some _Piptocephalis_). Members of the Kickxellaceae (e.g. _Coemansia_, _Kickxella_) have single spored merosporangia produced in serried ranks on boat-shaped or swollen structures (sporoclades). The sexual spores (zygospores) are rarely seen without culturing; oatmeal agar is one which favours their production. The key includes one member of the Entomophthorales, which also produces single-spored sporangia. Other members of this order may be found parasitising the various animals which live in dung; many other predacious fungi may also be seen, e.g. parasites of amoebae (_Acaulopage_). The key is of necessity far from complete, and omits members of the Dimargaritales, which have been found frequently on dung of small mammals in America.

Mitosporic fungi ('Fungi Imperfecti') and myxomycetes have been excluded, since they would expand the range of these keys beyond what was initially intended, although numerous species of both groups occur on dung when incubated in a damp chamber. For mitosporic fungi see Seifert, Kendrick & Murase (1983) and Ellis & Ellis (1988); for myxomycetes see Eliasson & Lundqvist (1979). As practical keys, rather than a taxonomic treatment, taxonomic authorities have not been cited. For ascomycetes, Cannon, Hawksworth & Sherwood-Pike (1985) have been followed, unless there is a more recent treatment of a group. For the basidiomycetes the 'New Checklist of British Agarics and Boleti' (Dennis, Orton & Hora, 1960, _Supplement to the Transactions of the British Mycological Society_ 43) has been followed, and _The British Fungus Flora_ (Orton & Watling, 1979 and Watling, 1982).

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Phillips, R. (1981). _Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and
Europe._ Pan Books, London.

Watling, R. (1982). _British Fungus Flora: Bolbitiaceae._ Her Majesty's
Stationery Office, Edinburgh.

PHYCOMYCETE REFERENCES

Benjamin, R. K. (1959). The merosporangiferous Mucorales. _Aliso_ 4,
321-433.

Benjamin, R. K. (1961). Addenda to the merosporangiferous Mucorales.
_Aliso_ 5, 11-19.

Benjamin, R. K. (1963). Addenda to the merosporangiferous Mucorales.
_Aliso_ 5, 273-288.

Benjamin, R. K. (1965). Addenda to the merosporangiferous Mucorales.
_Aliso_ 6, 1-10. (The 4 papers above are an excellent account of
_Syncephalis_, _Piptocephalis_, _Coemansia_ and other unusual allied
phycomycetes, republished (1967) as _Bibliotheca Mycologica_ 5 by J.
Cramer, Lehre).

Gams, W. & Moreau, R. (1959). Le genre _Mortierella_. _Annales
scientifiques de l'Université de Besançon_, Series 2 3, 95-105.

Hesseltine, C. W. (1955). Genera of Mucorales with a note on their
synonymy. _Mycologia_ 47, 344-363. (With good key; many other papers by
Hesseltine, with others, in _Mycologia_, _American Journal of Botany_,
_American Midland Naturalist_ and _Lloydia_).

Ingold, C. T. & Zoberi, M. H. (1963). The asexual apparatus of Mucorales
in relation to spore liberation. _Transactions of the British Mycological
Society_ 46, 115-134.

Naumov, N. A. (1939). Clés des Mucorinées. _Encyclopédie mycologique_ 9,
1-137.

Zycha, H., Siepmann, R. & Linneman, G. (1969). _Mucorales._ J. Cramer,
Lehre. (A revision of Zycha, 1935).

GENERAL REFERENCES

Bell, A. (1983). _Dung Fungi: an illustrated guide to coprophilous fungi
in New Zealand._ Victoria University Press, Wellington.

Bon, M. (1987). _The Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and
North-western Europe._ Hodder & Stoughton, London.

Cacialli, G., Caroti, V. & Doveri, F. (1995). _Funghi fimicoli e rari o
interssanti del litorale Toscano._ Schede di Micologia VOL. 1. Fondazione
Centro Studi Micologici Dell' A. M. B., Vicenza, Italy.

Domsch, K. H., Gams, W. & Anderson, T. H. (1980). _Compendium of soil
fungi._ Academic Press, New York.

Ellis, M. B. & Ellis, J. P. (1988). _Microfungi on Miscellaneous
Substrates._ Croom Helm, London & Sydney.

Gilman, J. C. (1957). _A Manual of Soil Fungi._ Iowa State College Press.

Eliasson, U. & Lundqvist, N. (1979). Fimicolous Myxomycetes. _Botaniska
Notiser_ 132, 551-568. (A list of 34 spp., with some descriptions and
illustrations).

Hawksworth, D. L., Kirk, P. M., Sutton, B. C. & Pegler, D. N. (1995).
_Ainsworth & Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi._ 8th edn. CAB
International, Wallingford.

Holden, M. (ed) (1982). Guide to the literature for the identification of
British fungi, 4th Edition. _Bulletin of the British Mycological Society_
16, 36-55; 92-112.

Massee, G., & Salmon, E. S. (1901). Researches on coprophilous fungi.
_Annals of Botany, London_ 15, 313-357.

Seifert, K. A., Kendrick, W. B. & Murase, G. (1983). _A key to
hyphomycetes on dung._ University of Waterloo Biology Series No. 27.

Webster, J. (1970). Coprophilous Fungi. _Transactions of the British
Mycological Society_ 54, 161-180.

Key 1. Ascomycota

1 Ascoma either globose to flask shaped, usually with an
easily observable pore or neck (PERITHECIUM or
PSEUDOTHECIUM, figs 16, 18, 19, 22, 27, 30, 32, 34-37),
or discoid (APOTHECIUM, figs 1, 3, 4, 7, 11-14). Spores
usually 8 in each ascus (less frequently 4, 16, 32, 64,
128 etc.). Asci ellipsoid to cylindrical, borne in a
distinct hymenium, thus appearing in fascicles or
distinct groups when the fruit body is squashed. 2
- Ascoma globose to subglobose, lacking a definite pore
or neck (CLEISTOTHECIUM or GYMNOTHECIUM, figs 38, 39,
46). Asci globose to subglobose, 8-spored, not in a
distinct hymenium, appearing quite free when the fruit body
is squashed. KEY 2, 148 (p. 45)

2(1) Ascoma a PERITHECIUM or PSEUDOTHECIUM, usually dark in
some part, not opening to a disc but remaining globose
or flask shaped. Asci unitunicate, not operculate but
often with an apical pore, which may stain blue in
iodine, or bitunicate. KEY 2, 1 (p. 24)
- Ascoma an APOTHECIUM, white or lightly coloured, soft
fleshed, opening out to a disc or cushion shape when
mature. Asci unitunicate. 3

3(2) Asci opening by an operculum (fig. 8), a bilabiate
vertical split down to a subapical ring of thickening
(fig. 15), or apparently just bursting. 4
- Asci inoperculate, with an apical pore. 96

4(3) Spores 8 (occasionally 4) in an ascus, colourless,
purple or brown. 5
- Spores more than 8 in an ascus, colourless. 77

5(4) Spores remaining colourless. 6
- Spores purple or brown at maturity. 39

6(5) Apothecia with obvious hairs. 7
- Apothecia without obvious hairs (microscopic hairs up to
50µm long may be present). 14

7(6) Hairs brown. Apothecia orange, red orange or yellow
orange. (_Cheilymenia_, fig. 1) 8
- Hairs colourless. Apothecia colourless or pinkish.
(_Lasiobolus_, fig. 3) 12

8(7) Apothecia with stellate hairs. Spores 14-20 × 8-11µm.
_Cheilymenia stercorea_ (figs 1, 2)
- Apothecia without stellate hairs. 9

9(8) Spores 14.5-18 × 8-9.5µm. Asci 10-13µm diam. Apothecia
2mm diam. or more. _Cheilymenia coprinaria_
- Spores larger, 17 × 10µm or more. 10

10(9) Apothecia reddish orange, up to 1mm diam., marginal
hairs rooting, wall 2-4µm thick. Spores 21-26 ×
10-13.8µm. _Cheilymenia fimicola_
- Apothecia pale orange yellow, marginal hairs
superficial, wall up to 2µm thick. 11

11(10) Asci up to 22µm diam. Spores 17-27 × 10-14.5µm.
_Cheilymenia pulcherrima_
- Asci wider, 25µm diam. or more. Spores 23-26.5 × 13-16.5µm.
_Cheilymenia raripila_

12(7) Hairs 600µm or longer. Spores 19-23 × 7-10µm.
_Lasiobolus macrotrichus_
- Hairs shorter, up to 600µm. 13

13(12) Asci clavate, 20µm diam. or wider. Spores 19-22 ×
10.5-13.5µm. _Lasiobolus cuniculi_
- Asci cylindrical, up to 20µm diam. Spores 18-22.5 ×
9.5-11.5µm. _Lasiobolus ciliatus_ (fig. 3)

14(6) Asci blue in iodine solution. 15
- Asci not blue in iodine. 24

15(14) Spores large, 30-42 × 15-18µm, warted, ellipsoid with
acute apices. _Thecotheus cinereus_
- Spores smaller, smooth or only finely ornamented 16

16(15) Apothecia brownish, large, 1cm diam. or more. (_Peziza_) 21
- Apothecia pale, up to 4mm diam. Asci protruding from
hymenium when ripe. 17

17(16) Apothecia white to pink, up to 2mm diam. Spores finely
verruculose, 18-25 × 8-14µm. _Iodophanus carneus_ (fig. 4)
- Apothecia pale, variously coloured when fresh, but drying
darker. Spores smooth. (_Thecotheus_) 18

18(17) Spores apiculate at each end, smooth. 19
- Spores not apiculate, 20-22 × 8-10µm. _Thecotheus agranulosus_

19(18) Spores with a collar at the base of the apiculus. 20
- Spores without a collar at the base of the apiculus,
16-21 × 8-12µm. _Thecotheus apiculatus_

20(19) Apothecia white. Spores 20-22 × 10-12µm, apiculus
4-6µm diam. _Thecotheus perplexans_
- Apothecia yellowish. Spores 12-15 × 7.5-9µm, apiculus
2.5-3.5µm diam. _Thecotheus africanus_

21(16) Spores smooth, without guttules. 22
- Spores verruculose or spinulose, 15-18 × 8-9µm, with 1
guttule. Paraphyses with clavate apices, with brown
contents. Apothecia asymmetrical, extended on one side.
_Peziza pleurota_

22(21) Spores 19-24 × 10.5-14µm. Apothecia yellowish brown,
up to 10cm diam. _Peziza vesiculosa_
- Spores up to 10µm wide. 23

23(22) Apothecia ca 1cm diam., umber with a paler margin.
Spores 15-22 × 9-10µm. _Peziza bovina_
- Apothecia up to 2cm diam., pale brown. Spores 13-16
× 7-9µm. _Peziza fimeti_

24(14) Apothecia robust, up to 4mm diam., orange or with brownish
or purple tints. 25
- Apothecia smaller, rarely more than 1mm, pale, yellowish
green, orange, grey or chestnut. 32

25(24) Apothecia orange or red. 26
- Apothecia discrete, brownish or purple. (_Fimaria_) 27

26(25) Apothecia crowded, 1-3mm diam., orange, with a granular
surface. Asci up to 190 × 15µm. Spores 15-18.5 ×
7-9.5µm. Paraphyses strongly clavate to apex up to 14µm
diam, filled with orange granules. _Coprobia granulata_
- Apothecia discrete, 1-2mm diam., orange or red. Asci
240 × 10-12µm. Spores 12-15 × 7-8µm. Paraphyses yellow,
only slightly swollen from 2µm to 3-4µm at apex.
_Ascophanus bresadolae_

27(25) Spores 8-9.5 × 4-4.5µm. _Fimaria equina_
- Spores larger. 28

28(27) Spores 20-38 × 10-13µm. _Fimaria hepatica_
- Spores shorter. 29

29(28) Spores 10-13 × 7-9µm. _Fimaria porcina_
- Spores 13-17 × 7-11µm. 30

30(29) Disc punctate with asci. Paraphysis tips swollen up to
3-5µm. Spores 14.5-16 × 9.5-11µm. _Fimaria leporum_
- Disc not punctate with asci. Paraphysis tips not or
only slightly swollen. 31

31(30) Apothecia pale yellowish. Spores 13-15.5 × 7.5-8.5µm.
_Fimaria theioleuca_
- Apothecia chestnut/purplish brown. Spores 14-17 ×
7-8.5µm. _Fimaria cervaria_

32(24) Spores less than 10µm long. 33
- Spores mostly longer than 10µm. 36

33(32) Paraphyses markedly capitate to 5-6µm, with yellowish
green contents. Apothecia dull at first, yellowish at
maturity. Spores 7-10 × 2-4.5µm.
_Thelebolus microsporus_ (fig. 5)
- Paraphyses only slightly inflated above, without
coloured contents. Apothecia whitish or grey. 34

34(33) Spores 5-7 × 3-4µm. Asci 38-42 × 6-7µm. Apothecia smoky
grey, 0.3-0.4mm diam. _Ascophanus cinerellus_
- Spores larger. Apothecia pale, white or yellowish. 35

35(34) Apothecia up to 1.2mm diam. Asci short stalked, 40-55 ×
8-12µm. Spores 7.5-9 × 4.5-5.5µm. _Coprotus glaucellus_
- Apothecia 0.2-0.5mm diam. Asci attenuate below, 65-85 ×
10-15µm. Spores 8-10 × 5-6.5µm. _Coprotus lacteus_

36(32) Apothecia chestnut brown up to 1mm diam. Asci 160 ×
13µm. Spores 13-16 x 8-11µm. Paraphyses forked, with
swollen tips. _Ascophanus misturae_
- Apothecia lighter coloured. Asci less than 150µm long. 37

37(36) Spores 14-18 × 9-11µm. Apothecia pale yellow/orange, up
to 1.5mm diam. Asci cylindrical, 110-150 × 12-15µm.
Paraphyses yellowish, slightly inflated to 4-5µm at
apices. _Coprotus ochraceus_
- Spores less than 15µm long. Apothecia up to 0.6mm diam.
Asci less than 100µm long. 38

38(37) Apothecia bright yellow. Asci cylindrical clavate,
attenuate below, 65-90 × 10-15µm. Spores 12-14 ×
6-8.5µm. Paraphyses branched, apices inflated to
4-5µm, with yellow contents. _Coprotus aurorus_
- Apothecia white/pale yellow, with darker margin. Asci
broadly clavate, stalked below 40-55 × 15-30µm.
Spores 9-15 × 6.5-9.5µm. Paraphyses inflated above to
5-8µm, hyaline. _Coprotus granuliformis_

39(5) Spores spherical or broadly ellipsoid, brown, ornamented
with warts, anastomosing ridges or a reticulum. Asci
clavate. Apothecium without excipulum.
(_Ascodesmis_, fig. 6) 40
- Spores ellipsoid or spherical, hyaline at first, then
purple, becoming brown at maturity; epispore smooth,
finely verruculose, warted or cracked. Asci cylindrical.
Excipulum present. 45

40(39) Spores 18-21.5 × 13.5-17.5µm. _Ascodesmis macrospora_
- Spores up to 16µm. 41

41(40) Spores ± spherical, L/B ratio mostly up to 1.2. 42
- Spores ± broadly ellipsoidal, L/B ratio mostly 1.2 or more. 43

42(41) Spores ornamented with round warts, 8.5-11 × 8.3-10µm.
_Ascodesmis nana_
- Spores ornamented with a network of ridges, 10.5-14 ×
9-12µm. _Ascodesmis sphaerospora_

43(41) Spores with a prominent reticulum of ridges (fig. 6),
11-15.5 × 8-13.5µm. Apothecia 150-300µm diam.
_Ascodesmis microscopica_ (fig. 6)
- Spore ornament not a reticulum. 44

44(43) Spores with 1 simple or branched ridge and isolated or
occasionally connected warts, 11-14.5 × 7-11.5µm.
Apothecia up to 500µm diam. _Ascodesmis porcina_
- Spores with isolated warts, some joined to form short
ridges, but not a reticulum, often capitate, 9.5-12.5
× 7.5-10µm. Apothecia 50-150µm diam. _Ascodesmis nigricans_

45(39) Spores separate in the ascus. (_Ascobolus_) 46
- Spores firmly joined together, both in the ascus and
after ejection (fig. 10). (_Saccabolus_) 66

46(45) Spores spherical. 47
- Spores ellipsoid. 48

47(46) Spores 10.5-13.5µm, epispore with numerous but isolated
warts. _Ascobolus brassicae_ (figs 8, 9)
- Spores 11.5-13.5(15)µm, epispore with subparallel
occasionally anastomosing lines. _Ascobolus crosslandii_

48(46) Spores very large, mostly 50-70 × 25-35µm, almost oblong
with rounded ends, typically with few cracks in the
epispore. _Ascobolus immersus_ (figs 7, 9)
- Spores smaller, with epispore smooth, warted or with cracks.
49

49(48) Epispore strongly and irregularly wrinkled with a
vesiculose layer of pigment, 11.6-16 × 6.5-9.3µm.
Paraphyses capitate up to 18µm. Apothecia up to 0.6mm
diam. _Ascobolus rhytidiosporus_
- Epispore not strongly wrinkled/vesiculose. 50

50(49) Epispore basically smooth or warted, perhaps with a few
irregular cracks. 51
- Epispore with a clear pattern of cracks or lines. 56

51(50) Spores up to 25µm long. 52
- Spores longer, 25µm or more. 54

52(51) Epispore smooth, finely granular or punctate. Gelatinous
material unilateral, not surrounding spore. 53
- Epispore warted, spores 18.5-21(22.5) × (9)10-11.5µm,
surrounded by gelatinous sheath. _Ascobolus hawaiiensis_

53(52) Spores 18-24 × 10-13µm. Hymenial mucus greenish yellow.
Excipulum not brown. _Ascobolus mancus_
- Spores 20-25 × 11-13µm. Hymenial mucus sulphur yellow.
Excipulum with rich brown intercellular pigment.
_Ascobolus boudieri_

54(51) Epispore smooth or finely granular, spores 23-29(32)
× 12-17µm. _Ascobolus elegans_
- Epispore warted. 55

55(54) Spores with a regular pattern of warts and intact
epispore, 26-32 × 15-17.5µm.
_Ascobolus stictoideus_ (fig. 9)
- Spores with irregular patches of thicker pigment,
especially at the poles, 28-35 × 16-18µm.
_Ascobolus degluptus_

56(50) Spores mostly 18 × 10µm or larger. 57
- Spores mostly smaller than 20 × 10µm. 61

57(56) Apothecia small, mostly up to 1mm diam., colourless.
Spores 20-35 × 11-14µm, epispore cracks distant,
irregular, often anastomosing.
_Ascobolus albidus_ (figs 7, 9)
- Apothecia larger, usually 1mm diam. or more, disc
yellowish, greenish, purplish or brownish. 58

58(57) Apothecia crowded, purplish or purplish brown with
intercellular pigment. Spores 18-28 × 10-12µm, with
longitudinal anastomosing cracks.
_Ascobolus roseopurpurascens_

- Apothecia yellowish or greenish. 59

59(58) Spores 17-22 × 9.5-12µm with a few widely spaced and
irregularly oriented cracks. _Ascobolus michaudii_
- Spores with closely spaced, ± longitudinal, cracks, with
varying degrees of anastomosis. 60

60(59) Apothecia furfuraceous, sessile. Ascus wall blue in
iodine. Spores 19-28 × 10-14µm.
_Ascobolus furfuraceus_ (fig. 7)
- Apothecia smooth, substipitate. Ascus wall only faintly
blue in iodine. Spores 19-22 × 9.5-13µm.
_Ascobolus perplexans_

61(56) Apothecia large, stipitate, 5-10mm diam. Spores 16-19.5
× 8.5-10µm, with subparallel, longitudinal, only rarely
anastomosing lines. _Ascobolus lignatilis_
- Apothecia up to 2mm diam. 62

62(61) Apothecia white. 63
- Apothecia yellow, green or brownish. 64

63(62) Spores 13-17 × 7.5-8.5µm, with a coarse reticulum of fine
cracks when mature. Only recorded on grouse, capercaillie
etc. (Tetraonidae) dung. _Ascobolus carletonii_
- Spores 16-20 × 8-10µm, with a pattern of longitudinal
anastomosing cracks. Only recorded on deer dung.
_Ascobolus sacchariferus_

64(62) Spores 14.5-16 × 8-9µm, epispore lines not densely
crowded. _Ascobolus cervinus_
- Spores smaller, epispore with densely crowded, rarely
anastomosing cracks. 65

65(64) Apothecia greenish yellow, furfuraceous, with crenulate
margin. Spores 9.5-15 × 6-8µm.
_Ascobolus crenulatus_ (fig. 9)
- Apothecia brownish yellow to brown, smooth, with
undifferentiated margin. Spores 12.5-14.5 × 7-8.5µm.
_Ascobolus minutus_

66(45) Asci 4-spored. Spore clusters 42-58 × 14-20µm. Spores
16.5-23 × 9.5-12µm, smooth to finely punctate, but with
a thick cap or girdle of reticulated or warted pigment.
_Saccobolus quadrisporus_
- Asci 8-spored. 67

67(66) Spore clusters ± globular, 17-26(39) × 15-20µm. 68
- Spore clusters elongated, 2-3 times as long as wide. 69

68(67) Spore clusters compact, subglobose, with only the
exposed surface of spores pigmented, ornamented with
small and coarse warts. _Saccobolus dilutellus_
- Spores loosely united in cluster, ornamented with
small isolated warts covering most of their surface.
_Saccobolus globuliferellus_

69(67) Apothecia yellow. Spores in 4 rows of 2 longitudinally
arranged spores (fig. 10). 70
- Apothecia hyaline or violaceous (some mature darker).
Spores in 2 rows of 3 and 1 row of 2 (fig. 10). 73

70(69) Spore clusters 40µm or longer. 71
- Spore clusters up to 40µm long. 72

71(70) Spore clusters 50-71 × 16-25µm. Spores 22-29 ×
8.5-14.5µm, smooth or rarely finely punctate, with
distant irregular cracks. _Saccobolus glaber_ (fig. 10)
- Spore clusters 43-51 × 14-17µm. Spores 16-22 × 7.5-9µm,
with fine isolated warts. _Saccobolus citrinus_

72(70) Spores 14-17.5(19.5) × 7.5-8.5(10)µm, easily separated
at maturity. Spore clusters becoming shorter and more
rounded with maturity. Apothecia up to 300µm diam.,
inconspicuous due to their solitary nature and the
predominantly brownish colour due to the mature spores.
_Saccobolus truncatus_ (fig. 10)
- Spores 11.5-13.5 × 5.5-6.5µm. _Saccobolus minimus_

73(69) Apothecia white, covered with tapering squamules
composed of septate hyphae. Spore clusters 38-43 ×
15-17µm. Spores 16-17.5 × 7-8.5µm, smooth or finely
punctate. _Saccobolus caesariatus_
- Apothecia not white, without tapering scales. 74

74(73) Spore clusters mostly over 40µm long. 75
- Spore clusters mostly under 40µm long. 76

75(74) Spore clusters 38-62 × 14-19µm. Spores 13-21.5 ×
6.5-9.5µm, smooth, finely warted or with reticulate
cracks. Apothecia 0.2-2mm diam.
_Saccobolus versicolor_ (fig. 10)
- Spore clusters 42-60 × 18-24µm. Spores very coarsely
warted, 17.5-23 × 8.5-10µm (inc. warts). _Saccobolus beckii_

76(74) Spore clusters compact, 26-43 × 13-19µm. Spores 13.5-18
× 7.5-9.5µm, epispore with fine or coarse warts.
Apothecia 0.3-0.8mm diam. _Saccobolus obscurus_
- Spore clusters elongated, 28-37 × 10-13µm. Spores
10-14.5 × 5-7.5µm, epispore smooth or very finely
granular. Apothecia 0.1-0.3mm diam.
_Saccobolus depauperatus_

77(4) Asci operculate or bursting, without a subapical ring.
Spores ellipsoid. 78
- Apothecia white, often minutely hairy at the margin.
Ascus dehiscing by a vertical slit; the slit is
prevented from running right down the ascus by a
subapical ring of thickening. Spores ellipsoid-fusiform.
(_Ascozonus_, figs 14, 15) 90

78(77) Asci 16-spored. Spores ellipsoid, 11-16 × 7-10µm.
_Coprotus sexdecemsporus_
- Asci more than 16-spored. 79

79(78) Asci 32-spored. 80
- Asci more than 32-spored. 84

80(79) Asci very large, nearly 0.5mm long, spores 30-35 ×
13-17µm (32-40 × 20-24µm in Kimbrough, 1969). Apothecia
pale coloured. _Thecotheus pelletieri_
- Asci and spores smaller. 81

81(80) Spores 10µm or longer. 83
- Spores up to 10µm long. 82

82(81) Spores ellipsoid, with minute scattered warts visible
under oil-immersion, 7-9 × 4-4.5µm. Apothecia densely
crowded, 90-120µm diam., with 8-13 asci. Asci 32-55
× 16-18µm with (24-)32 spores. Paraphyses 1.5-2µm,
clavate to 4-4.5µm. _Thelebolus caninus_
- Spores subacute at apices, ca 6 × 4µm (described as
'minute'; this value is suggested by Boudier's comparison
with _R. dubius_, for which measurements are given).
Apothecia densely crowded, tawny yellowish-brown.
_Ryparobius brunneus_

83(81) Spores 10-12.5 × 5-7.5µm. Asci clavate, 75-100 ×
20-30µm. Paraphyses enlarged to 6µm at apex.
_Coprotus albidus_
- Spores 13.5-17.5 × 7-8µm. Asci 10-15 per apothecium,
120-175 × 50-75µm. Paraphyses filiform.
_Coprotus rhyparobioides_

84(79) Asci with up to 64 spores. 85
- Asci with many more than 64 spores--impractical to count. 86

85(84) Asci 64-spored, broad clavate with short stalk, 80-130
× 30-60µm. Spores 8-12 × 4-7µm. _Coprotus niveus_
- Asci broadly clavate with up to 64 spores, 60-100 ×
20-30µm. Spores 7-10 × 4.5-5.5µm. Apothecia superficial,
on the surface of the substrate, yellowish brown,
gregarious, united into a crust. _Thelebolus crustaceus_

86(84) Apothecia superficial, 400-600µm diam., with prominent,
acuminate, superficial, 1-2-septate hairs, 80-190µm
long, often roughened towards their apex, with one
1000+-spored ascus, 110-240 × 15-27µm. Spores very
variable, 6.5-16 × 3.7-8.8µm (mostly 7.5-13 × 4.5-7µm).
_Lasiobolus monascus_
- Apothecia minute, rarely above 350µm diam., globose and
immersed in substrate when young. Asci broad globose,
with 100-200 spores. Usually only 1-3 asci in each
apothecium, which dehisce by bursting at the apex. 87
(Other _Ryparobius_ spp. will key out here [e.g. _R. dubius_,
_R. myriosporus_, _R. pachyascus_ and _R.
polysporus_]. They all have scattered to gregarious,
immersed to semi-immersed apothecia 100-200µm diam.,
with relatively few asci, each with 100-250 ellipsoid
to subacuminate ca 5-7 × 3-4µm spores. There are
insufficient modern observations to allow their
identification and separation with confidence).

87(86) Apothecia with a few, but obvious, setae. Spores 9 × 7µm
or larger. 88
- Apothecia without setae. Spores ellipsoid, 6-9 × 3.5-4µm. 89

88(87) Spores ellipsoid, 9-11 × 7-9µm. Setae up to 600µm long.
_Trichobolus zukalii_
- Spores subglobose, 11-12 × 10-11µm. Setae up to 300µm long.
_Trichobolus sphaerosporus_ (fig. 11)

89(87) Apothecia and asci large, 170-250µm diam.
_Thelebolus stercoreus_ (fig. 12)
- Apothecia and asci small, rarely above 80-90µm diam.
_Thelebolus nanus_ (fig. 13)

90(77) Asci 16(-24)-spored. Spores not closely aggregated into
an imbricated mass, 13-14 × 6µm (8-9 × 4µm)[1].
Apothecial hairs rough, subulate. _Ascozonus parvisporus_
- Asci with 32 or more spores. 91

91(90) Asci 32-spored. Spores 16.5-18 × 4.5-5µm (11-12 ×
3-3.5µm)[1]. Apothecia with a single row of sharp,
pointed, roughened hairs. _Ascozonus crouanii_
- Asci more than 32-spored. 92

92(91) Asci 48-spored. Spores spindle-shaped, 12-14.5 × 2.5-4µm.
_Ascozonus leveillei_
- Asci more than 48-spored. 93

93(92) Asci 64-spored. 94
- Asci more than 64-spored. 95

94(93) Apothecia with a short base of globose cells, with
minutely roughened marginal hairs up to 30 × 8µm. Spores
elliptic-fusoid, 12-14 × 3-5µm.
_Ascozonus woolhopensis_ (figs 14, 15)
- Apothecia sessile, with aseptate smooth hairs. Spores
21 × 7.5µm (13-14 × 4.5-5µm)[1]. _Ascozonus cunicularis_

95(93) Apothecia with a short base of globose cells, with
short, irregular hairs. Asci 64-96-spored Spores
elliptic-fusoid, 14-14.5 × 5-5.5µm (10-15 × 3.5-4µm)[1].
_Ascozonus leveillanus_
- Apothecia sessile, dotted with hairs in connate groups
of 2-3. Asci with 128 or more spores. Spores 10 × 5µm
(7 × 3.5µm)[1]. _Ascozonus subhirtus_

96(3) Apothecia stalked. 97
- Apothecia not stalked. 98

97(96) Apothecia up to 2mm diam., with a short cylindrical stalk,
light brown. Asci 150 × 10µm. Spores hyaline, with 2 oil
drops, occasionally 1-septate, 13-15 × 4.5µm.
_Lanzia cuniculi_
- Apothecia up to 3mm diam., pale olivaceous to grey, with
a long, slender, reddish-brown stalk arising from a
sclerotium in the dung. Asci 30-40 × 4-5µm. Spores
ellipsoid, grey-brown, 4-4.5 × 2µm. _Martininia panamaensis_

98(96) Spores 7-11(14) × 1.75-2.75µm. ellipsoid, ellipsoid-
fusiform or slightly clavate. Apothecia yellowish brown
when fresh, drying darker, up to 1mm diam. Asci 42-60 ×
7.5-9µm, pore weakly blue in iodine. _Pezizella albula_
- Spores and asci smaller. 99

99(98) Spores linear, 3-5 × 1µm. Asci 30 × 5µm, cylindrical
with a short stipe. Paraphyses not clavate but fused
to form an epithecium. Apothecia pale pellucid,
0.5-1mm diam. _Orbilia leporina_
- Spores longer, subulate, curved. 100

100(99) Spores 7-8.5 × 1.2-1.8µm. Asci 36-40 × 3-5µm, gradually
tapering to a short base. Paraphyses enlarged to 3µm at
apex, covered with brown granules. Apothecia light brown,
0.4-1.mm diam. _Orbilia fimicola_
- Spores 8-10.55 × 0.9-1µm. Asci 30-45 × 3µm,
cylindrical-clavate with narrow tapering base and
truncate apex. Paraphyses 2µm diam., the tips with a
crust-like secretion fusing together to form a shiny
epithecium. Apothecia white to yellowish, 180-700µm diam.
_Orbilia fimicoloides_

Key 2. Perithecial, pseudothecial, cleistothecial and gymnothecial fungi

1 Perithecia occurring singly or in groups, but directly
(key 1,2) on the dung or buried in it (figs 16, 28, 19, 22, 27,
30, 32, 34-36). 2
- Perithecia occurring in or on a mass of fungal tissue
(stroma) growing in or on the dung (figs 32, 37). 135

2(1) Spores black, brown or dark olive-greenish. 3
- Spores hyaline or pale coloured, at least under the
microscope (may be coppery red _en masse_). 117

3(2) Spores smooth, without an ornamentation of hyaline pits. 4
- Spores 1-celled, ornamented with hyaline pits.
(_Gelasinospora_) 114

4(3) Perithecia dark, olive, brown or black. 5
- Perithecia reddish brown, orange or golden, globose,
with a neck. Spores black, limoniform. 116

5(4) Perithecia globose, surmounted by a dense tuft of greyish
green hairs, which may be branched or simple, straight
or curly. Spores olivaceous, limoniform. Asci clavate,
soon disappearing. (A large genus not characteristic
of dung, but occurring occasionally).
_Chaetomium_ (fig. 16)
- Perithecia more pyriform, or if globose then with a
distinct neck, may be setose but not densely hairy,
with clavate or cylindrical asci. 6

6(5) Each spore composed of 4 or more cells in a row (figs
17, 21). Asci bitunicate (figs 20, 23). 7
- Spores 1- or 2-celled. Asci bitunicate or unitunicate. 29

7(6) Spores 16-32-celled, united firmly together in a bundle
both in the ascus and after discharge. Germ slits
usually absent. (_Sporormia_) 8
- Spores each with 4 or more cells, each spore free and
surrounded by its own gelatinous sheath. Germ slits
usually present. (_Sporormiella_) 11

8(7) Spores 16-20-celled. 9
- Spores 29-32-celled, 130-160 × 4-6µm. _Sporormia mirabilis_

9(8) Spores 16-celled, 85-116 × 5-6.5µm. _Sporormia fimicola_
- Spores smaller. 10

10(9) Spores 16-celled, 37-45 × 3µm. Asci 50-60 × 10-12µm.
_Sporormia sp._ (fig. 17)
[recorded as _S. fimetaria_ by Richardson (1972);
see also Bell (1983) and Dissing (1992)]
- Spores 16-20-celled, 50-57 × 3.5-4.5µm. Asci 70-80 ×
12-16µm. _Sporormia fimetaria_
(These two taxa may represent the extremes of _S. fimetaria_).

11(7) Spores 4-celled. 12
- Spores more than 4-celled. 22

12(11) Spores more than 65-70µm long. 13
- Spores less than 65-70µm long. 15

13(12) Spores 65-95 × 15-18µm. _Sporormiella megalospora_
- Spores longer than 90µm. 14

14(13) Spores 90-118 × 15-20µm. Asci tapering gradually from
the broadest part near the apex to a 'stipe'.
_Sporormiella ovina_ (figs 18, 21)
- Spores 91-114 × (14)18-21µm. Asci cylindrical, abruptly
contracted below to a short 'stipe'.
_Sporormiella borealis_

15(12) Spores mostly less than 35µm long. 16
- Spores mostly between 35-60µm long. 19

16(15) Spores less than 25µm long. 17
- Spores 25-35(38)µm long. 18

17(16) Spores (15)17-24(26) × 5-7µm, end cells broadly conical.
Ascospores uniseriate. Asci 120-135µm long. Pseudothecia
250-300µm diam. _Sporormiella pulchella_
- Spores 16-22 × 4.5-5.5µm, end cells subovate. Ascospores
biseriate. Asci 95-125µm long. Pseudothecia 300-350µm
diam. _Sporormiella nigropurpurea_

18(16) Spores 30-38.5 × 5.5-6.5µm. Asci clavate, tapering
gradually below to a 'stipe'. _Sporormiella leporina_
- Spores 27-36(38) × 4-6(8)µm, tending to break in two at
the middle septum. Asci cylindrical, abruptly contracted
below. _Sporormiella minima_ (fig. 21)

19(15) Spores with end cells rounded. Asci cylindrical,
abruptly contracted below. 20
- Spores with end cells tapered and slightly conical.
Asci clavate, tapering gradually to a long stalk. 21

20(19) Spores 45-65 × 8-11.5µm.
_Sporormiella intermedia_ (figs 19-21)
- Spores 38-46 × 6.5-8µm. _Sporormiella australis_

21(19) Spores 45-60 × 11.5-14µm, germ slits parallel with
long axis. _Sporormiella grandispora_
- Spores 35-45(48) × 7-9(10)µm.
_Sporormiella lageniformis_ (fig. 21)

22(11) Spores 5-celled, 70-80 × 17-19µm. _Sporormiella pentamera_
- Spores more than 5-celled. 23

23(22) Spores 7- or 8-celled. 24
- Spores 13-celled, 46-60 × 9-10µm. _Sporormiella antarctica_

24(23) Spores 7-celled. 25
- Spores 8-celled. 26

25(24) Spores 40-55 × 7-9µm, readily disarticulating, the end
cells longer than wide, the rest shorter than wide.
_Sporormiella vexans_ (fig. 21)
- Spores 70-80 × 16-18µm, end cells rounded.
_Sporormiella heptamera_

26(24) Spores mostly longer than 45µm. 27
- Spores less than 50µm long, not disarticulating at the
central septum. 28

27(26) Spores 45-60 × 5-7.5µm, disarticulating at the central
septum, all cells the same width.
_Sporormiella bipartis_ (fig. 21)
- Spores 50-59 × 10-12µm, not disarticulating, 3rd cell
down wider than the others. _Sporormiella corynespora_

28(26) Spores (33)37-40(49) × 7-9µm, cylindrical. Asci
abruptly contracted below. _Sporormiella pascua_
- Spores 40-48 × 7-8µm, fusiform cylindrical. Asci gradually
tapered below. _Sporormiella octomera_

29(6) Spores obviously 2-celled at maturity. 30
- Spores 1-celled, or appearing 1-celled at maturity.
(Those of _Podospora_, _Schizothecium_ etc. are 2-celled
in early stages of their development, but only one cell
matures to become pigmented; the other remains hyaline,
often collapses, and may be difficult to see). 47

30(29) Spores 23-28 × 13-17µm, upper cell dark, 15-19µm, with
close, blunt spines giving the impression of a pitted
spore surface, with apical germ pore, the lower cell
hyaline, 6-8.5µm, smoky-brown. Asci unitunicate,
4-spored. Perithecia 400µm diam.
_Apiosordaria verruculosa_ (fig. 24)
- Both cells of spore similar in shape, size and colour. 31

31(30) Asci unitunicate. Spores with a 'gelatinous' appendage
at each end. Perithecial neck with setae. 32
- Asci bitunicate. Spores without gelatinous appendages,
although a sheath may be present. 33

32(31) Spores 38-48 × 11-14µm, appendages longitudinally
fibrillate. _Zygospermella striata_
- Spores 46-68 × 11-17µm, appendages hollow, not
fibrillate. _Zygospermella insignis_ (fig. 25)

33(31) Spores with each end truncated by a germ pore.
Pseudothecia with dark bristles at neck.
(_Trichodelitschia_) 34
- Spores with rounded ends and germ slits along the sides.
Pseudothecial neck smooth or hairy, but without setae.
(_Delitschia_, fig. 26) 36

34(33) Spores 28-34 × 9-12µm. _Trichodelitschia aedelphica_
- Spores smaller. 35

35(34) Spores 20-27.5 × 8-11µm.
_Trichodelitschia bisporula_ (figs 22, 23)
- Spores 18-21 × 6-7µm. _Trichodelitschia munkii_

36(33) Asci ca 256-spored. Spores 14-15 × 6-8µm.
_Delitschia myriaspora_
- Asci 8-spored. 37

37(36) Spores less than 20µm long. 38
- Spores more than 20µm long. 41

38(37) Spores 8-11 × 3-5µm. _Delitschia perpusilla_
- Spores 10-20µm long. 39

39(38) Spores 10-14 × 5-6µm. _Delitschia marchalii_
- Spores longer. 40

40(39) Spores 14-18 × 6-10µm, uniseriate. Asci 70-90 × 7-16µm.
_Delitschia niesslii_
- Spores (16)18-20(22.5) × 6-7.5µm, biseriate. Asci
80-145 × 20-25µm. _Delitschia consociata_ (fig. 26)

41(37) Spores mostly wider than 20µm. 42
- Spores mostly less than 20µm wide. 43

42(41) Spores 50-64 × 19-23µm. _Delitschia furfuracea_
- Spores 50-70 × 25-33µm. _Delitschia winteri_ (fig. 26)

43(41) Spores 20-25 × 4.5-6µm, the cells slightly tapered and
almost completely separated. Pseudothecia hairless,
globose, ca 200µm diam. _Delitschia leptospora_ (fig. 26)
- Spores longer and wider. 44

44(43) Spores transversely septate. 45
- Spores obliquely septate, deeply constricted at the
septum, 35-50 × 15-18µm. _Delitschia didyma_

45(44) Pseudothecia hairy. Spores 37-50 × 17-20µm, not deeply
constricted at the septum. _Delitschia chaetomioides_
- Pseudothecia smooth. 46

46(45) Spores biseriate, 45-55 × 13-16µm, one cell usually
larger than the other, deeply constricted at the
septum and readily separating. _Delitschia canina_
- Spores uniseriate, 40-55 × 16-21µm, both cells equal.
_Delitschia patagonica_

47(29) Spores with colourless 'gelatinous' secondary appendages
(caudae, fig. 28) at one or both ends (not always easy
to see; mounting in Indian ink is useful, and essential
for some). A hyaline (empty) cell, the primary appendage
(fig. 28), may also be present. 48
- Spores without caudae, although a colourless gelatinous
sheath may be present. Primary appendages present or
absent. 88

48(47) Perithecia often hairy or tomentose when young. Immature
spores long, wavy cylindrical, with a row of globules,
and more likely to be seen than mature spores (fig. 29).
Secondary appendages thin, simple, up to 60 × 3µm.
Mature spores with a dark cell 14-25 × 7-13µm and
pedicel (primary appendage) 25-50 × 3-6µm.
(_Cercophora_) 49
- Perithecia often with scales or setae at the neck or
tomentose. Caudae, simple or compound. Immature spores
clavate or ellipsoid, not long, wavy cylindrical.
Mature spores readily observed. 51

49(48) Immature spores 45-70 × 4-6µm. 50
- Immature spores smaller, 38-52 × 3-3.5µm. Mature spores
with upper (dark) cell 14-18 × 7-9µm; hyaline pedicel
27-36 × 3-3.5µm. _Cercophora silvatica_

50(49) Perithecia with white or grey tomentum. Young spores
45-65 × 4.5-6µm. Mature spores with upper cell 17-25 ×
8.5-13µm and pedicel 30-50µm long.
_Cercophora coprophila_ (fig. 29)
- Perithecia with flexuose brown hairs and, at the neck,
tufts of agglutinated, swollen, obtuse hairs. Young
spores 52-68 × 4-5µm. Mature spores with upper cell
15-25 × 9-11µm and pedicel 35-45µm long.
_Cercophora mirabilis_

51(48) Primary appendage absent. (_Arnium_, fig. 28) 52
- Primary appendage present. 60

52(51) Asci (64-)128-spored. Spores 18-26 × (10)12-15µm.
Perithecial neck sometimes with rigid, brown, septate
hairs up to 330µm. _Arnium leporinum_
- Asci 4- or 8-spored. 53

53(52) Asci 4-spored. 54
- Asci 8-spored. 55

54(53) Spores ellipsoid, sometimes inequilaterally flattened,
44-54 × 22-30µm, with 1 apical germ pore, caudae not
swelling in water. Perithecium usually with lateral
tufts of agglutinated hairs up to 550µm long.
_Arnium arizonense_
- Spores evenly ellipsoid-fusiform, 31-55 × 18-25µm, with
germ pore at each end, caudae covering germ pores, 35-60
× 7-11µm, but rupturing and swelling to up to 130 ×
50µm, and becoming diffuse and irregular. Perithecial
neck covered with rigid hairs up to 190 × 2.5µm.
_Arnium hirtum_

55(53) Perithecial neck distinctly setose with rigid hairs. 56
- Perithecial neck without setae. 57