Restilago capensis

Restilago capensis Vánky 2008, in Vánky, Mycologia Balcanica, 5, 69-72 (2008).

Etymology: Resti-, from Restionaceae, the host plant family; -lago, alluding to Ustilago, to which in some respects it is similar.

Diagnosis: Sori (Figure 1) around some of the capsules of an inflorescence forming black, globoid or flattened, ‘heart-shaped’, hard, non-pulverulent bodies. The sizes are 2-3 mm high and 2-3 × 3-4 mm wide. The distal part of the sori 2- or 4-lobed according to the apical part of the capsule, with the persistent, protruding style between the lobes. The surface of the sori is formed of a compact mass of agglutinated spores. The basal part of the sori narrowed, composed of a white stroma of sporogenous hyphae and host tissues forming pockets with spore masses at maturation (Figure 1). Peridium, columella, and sterile cells in the sori lacking. The sori become soft in water and release the blackish-brown, floating mass of spores. Spores (Figures 2-3) globose, ellipsoidal, ovoid to elongated, (9–) 9.5-14.5 × (10–) 11-20 (–22) μm, dark reddish brown; wall even, 1 μm thick, densely verrucose, spore profile finely serrulate. A thin, hyaline, gelatinous layer covers the spores which when dry glues the spores firmly together or to the substrate. Spore germination (Fig. 4) results in simple or ramified ed hyphae. Distribution: South Africa. Known only from the type collections.

Index Fungorum Number: IF511504

Figure1. Sori of Restilago capensis around the capsules of Ischyrolepis capensis (type). Habit and two sori at higher magnification, one longitudinally sectioned. Bars = 1 cm for habit, and 2 mm for the enlarged sori.