Phialocephala victorinii sp. nov., Endophyte of Cypripedium parviflorum

Abstract

A new hyphomycete Phialocephala victori- nii sp. nov. is an endophyte isolated from living roots of the terrestrial orchid Cypripedium parviflorum. Phialocephala victorinii is typical of the genus in mor- phology and ecology, but clearly different from other known species of Phialocephala in having characters not previously described: slow growing colony, dark brown to golden brown on malt agar, and sporulating readily on corn meal agar, bearing regular conidio- phores, sterile lateral protuberances present on hy- phae in fertile region and not on the conidiophores, stipe base and apex subhyaline, collarettes extremely expanded, and conidia of two kinds: dark brown, ob- ovoid or lunate, and light brown, allantoid conidia. Its sensitivity to cycloheximide suggests an affinity in- side Phialocephala and no teleomorph connection with Ophiostoma. The taxonomic placement of the new species and a key to the members of Phialoce- phala are given.