Bertia moriformis and its varieties

Abstract

Examination of Canadian, United States, and European collections of Bertia moriformis in DAOM, TRTC, and other herbaria revealed the existence of two distinct forms distinguished solely by differences in ascospore morphology and dimensions. Bertia moriformis var. moriformis occurs mostly on deciduous wood in Europe and North America and is characterized by narrow, uniseptate, straight to gently curved ascospores, 4.5–6.5 μm wide. Bertia moriformis var. latispora, described as new, occurs principally on coniferous wood; the collections with one exception are from North America. Within the ascus, the ascospores of var. latispora are indistinguishable from those of var. moriformis, but when mature and free of the ascus, they are wider, 6–8.5 μm, and geniculate. Germinating ascospores of var. latispora apparently become pluriseptate prior to germination. Bertia moriformis var. multiseptata Sivanesan, with multiseptate ascospores, is briefly redescribed and illustrated.