Keys to Fungi on Dung

by M. J. Richardson; Roy Watling

106([104])	Ascospores 27-43 × 16-20µm. Hypocopra merdaria
-	Ascospores 38-50 × 19-24µm. Hypocopra stercoraria
107([100])	Spores up to 10µm long.	[108]
-	Spores 10µm or longer.	[109]
108([107])	Asci 8-spored. Spores 8 × 4µm. Sordaria minima
-	Asci ca 128-spored. Spores 5-8 × 4-5µm.
Sordaria polyspora
109([107])	Spores relatively narrow, at least twice as long as wide, 22-26 × 9-12µm. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct.
Sordaria alcina
-	Spores relatively broad, less than twice as long as wide.	[110]
110([109])	Spores mostly 25µm or longer.	[111]
-	Spores up to 25µm long.	[112]
111([110])	Spores (21)23-29(30) × 14.5-17(18)µm, with apiculate base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 240-300 × 20-24µm.
Sordaria superba
-	Spores (26)28-35 × (17)18-22µm, with slightly apiculate base. Gelatinous sheath broad, distinct. Asci 280-350 × 30-35µm.
Sordaria macrospora
112([110])	|Spores with gelatinous sheath absent or very thin, 19.5-25 × 15.5-19µm.
Sordaria humana ([fig. 33])
-	Spores with gelatinous sheath, up to 15µm diam.	[113]
113([112])	Spores obovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 18-23 × 12-15µm.
Sordaria lappae
-	Spores ellipsoid, 17-25 × 10-14µm.
Sordaria fimicola ([fig. 33])

Fig. 32. Hypocopra equorum, perithecium with limited stroma, and detail of ascus tip with blue staining plug and spore.
Fig. 33. Ascospores, from left, of Sordaria fimicola, S. humana and Sphaerodes fimicola.

114([3])	Spores 20-28 × 12-16µm, with subacute ends, each with a germ pore.
Gelasinospora adjuncta
-	Spores larger.	[115]
115([114])	Asci 4-spored. Spores 24-29 × 15-18µm, with rounded ends and one germ pore.
Gelasinospora tetrasperma
-	Asci 8-spored. Spores 26-35 × 22-27µm Gelasinospora cerealis
116([4])	Perithecia orange to golden, often gregarious, almost spherical, necks ca 50µm diam., 15µm high, setae at ostiole hyaline, up to 35 × 3µm. Spores limoniform, with a germ pore at each end, 15-25 × 9-16µm.
Sphaerodes fimicola ([fig. 33])
-	Perithecia yellow or reddish brown (darker when filled with mature spores), neck 50µm long, with setae at the ostiole 40-70µm long. Spores dark brown to black, limoniform, 20-34 × 11-17µm, with apical germ pore.
Melanospora brevirostris
117([2])	Asci more than 8-spored. see Key 1 at [86]
-	Asci with 8 or fewer spores, or asci evanescent, not readily observed.	[118]
118([117])	Perithecia orange/yellow, 500-1000µm diam. Spores long (over 45µm) or 2-celled if shorter.	[119]
-	Perithecia smaller, or black or with a neck. Spores shorter (less than 20µm) or septate if longer.	[120]
119([118])	Perithecia orange, 500-1000µm diam., in small groups on a limited stroma. Spores thick walled, 48-60 × 22-26µm, with a gelatinous sheath.
Selinia pulchra
-	Perithecia orange yellow, superficial, ca 500µm diam., with ostiole in a disc surrounded by silvery triangular tufts of hyphae ca 100µm long. Spores ellipsoid, 1-septate, 12-14 × 4-5µm.
Nectria suffulta
120([118])	Perithecia reddish brown or pale, hyaline, with a distinct neck.	[121]
-	Perithecia black.	[131]

121([120])	Perithecia globose, up to 250µm diam., immersed, reddish brown, with a neck 1-3 mm long. Asci broad ellipsoid, 5-8.5µm, rapidly breaking down and difficult to see. Spores ellipsoid-allantoid. 5.5-7 × 1.5-2µm, collecting in a pearly droplet at the fringed tip of the perithecial beak.
Viennotidia fimicola ([fig. 34])
-	Perithecia pyriform, very pale in colour, 60-200µm diam., with a neck 60-700µm long. Asci rarely visible. Spores pointed-fusiform, 1-3 septate, often with a sheath and clumped together in fascicles.
(Pyxidiophora, [fig. 36]) [122]
122([121])	Neck 95-145µm long, brown, rugose, with cells arranged in 5-6 longitudinal rows visible in one view. Spores 38-52µm long.
Pyxidiophora badiorostris
-	Neck not brown or rugose, composed of hyaline, irregularly arranged cylindrical cells.	[123]
123([122])	Spores less than 45µm long.	[124]
-	Spores more than 45µm long.	[125]
124([123])	Spores 35-45µm long, with brown apical or subapical patches of pigment.
Pyxidiophora brunneocapitatus
-	Spores 35-43µm long, without brown apical or subapical patches of pigment.
Pyxidiophora microsporus
125([123])	Spores mostly 45-60µm long.	[126]
-	Spores mostly longer than 60µm.	[129]

Fig. 34. Viennotidia fimicola, perithecium and spores.
Fig. 35. Phomatospora coprophila, perithecium, and ascus with spores.
Fig. 36. Pyxidiophora petchii, perithecium and spores.

126([125])	Perithecia 70-100µm diam., neck 100-190µm long. Spores (43)48-58(65)µm long.
Pyxidiophora grovei
-	Perithecia usually less than 80µm diam.	[127]
127([126])	Perithecial necks mostly less than 100µm long. Spores (45)48-57(60)µm long.
Pyxidiophora arvernensis
-	Perithecial necks up to 200µm long.	[128]
128([127])	Spores 45-53µm long.
Pyxidiophora petchii ([fig. 36])
-	Spores 53-65µm long. Pyxidiophora schotterianus
129([125])	Spores 60-70µm long.	[130]
-	Spores (75)80-90(100)µm. Perithecia 120-160µm diam., neck 220-370µm long.
Pyxidiophora bainemensis
130([129])	Perithecial necks 300-700µm long. Spores 60-70µm. Perithecia 100-120µm diam.
Pyxidiophora spinuliformis
-	Perithecial necks 225-265µm long. Spores 65-70µm. Perithecia 110-125µm diam.
Pyxidiophora marchalii
131([120])	Perithecia small, up to 400µm diam., with hairy necks. Spores hyaline or pale, coppery-red en masse, extruded in tendrils.	[132]
-	Perithecia larger, without hairy necks. If smaller than 200µm, with spores smaller than 5 × 3µm.	[134]
132([131])	Spores reniform, with gelatinous sheath, 3.5 × 2-3µm, yellow, reddish brown en masse in extruded tendrils. Asci spherical, evanescent. Perithecia black, spherical, 200-400µm diam., with cylindrical neck up to 300µm long, with sparse pointed hairs.
Microascus longirostris
-	Spores larger, not reniform. Perithecia up to 300µm diam.	[133]
133([132])	Perithecial necks long, up to 750µm, with terminal hairs up to 1500µm, curved or circinate at tips. Spores limoniform, 7-10.5 × 5.5-7µm.
Lophotrichus ampullus
-	Perithecial necks short, ca 50µm, with long straight tapering hairs. Spore shape limoniform/variable, 6-7.5 × 5-5.5µm, with prominent germ pores.
Lophotrichus bartletti

134([131])	Perithecia up to 150µm diam., immersed but for a conical neck 50-75µm high. Asci 50 × 2-2.5µm. Spores minute, cylindrical, 3.5-4.5 × 1.75-2.5µm.
Phomatospora coprophila ([fig. 35])
-	Perithecia more obvious, often hairy, or tomentose when young. Immature spores up to 70µm long, wavy cylindrical, with a row of globules inside and a short thin appendage at each end.
(see Cercophora, [49])
135([1])	Perithecia immersed, surrounded at the neck by a very limited flange-like stroma which is easily overlooked.
see Hypocopra, [101] or if orange see Selinia, [119]
-	Stroma very conspicuous.	[136]
136([135])	Perithecia in a subglobose group at the tip of the stromatic stalk. Spores with germ slit and gelatinous sheath.
(Podosordaria) [137]
-	Perithecia not in a terminal head.	[139]
137([136])	Stalk short, 3-5mm. Spores (12)14-19 × 6-9µm, slightly flattened on one side.
Podosordaria leporina
-	Stalk long, 1-6cm. Spores larger.	[138]
138([137])	Spores 21-24 × 11-12µm. Stromatic stalk hairy.
Podosordaria tulasnei
-	Spores 40-60 × 20-30µm. Stromatic stalk not hairy.
Podosordaria pedunculata
139([136])	Stroma externally black, rooted or partially immersed in the dung, expanding at the surface to form a white disc up to 15mm diam., punctate with black perithecial ostioles.
(Poronia) [140]
-	Stroma not as above.	[141]
140([139])	Spores 18-26 × 7-12µm, bean shaped, with gelatinous sheath. Stroma deeply rooted. Especially on horse dung.
Poronia punctata
-	Spores (22)25-32(35) × (12)14-18µm, oblong ellipsoid to slightly fusiform. Stroma not deeply rooted. Especially on rabbit dung near the sea.
Poronia erici

141([139])	Stroma spreading over surface of dung or filamentous. Spores ellipsoid to slightly flattened on one side, with germ slit. (Xerophilic fungi developing after long periods of relatively dry incubation).
(Wawelia) [142]
-	Stroma clavate, black, partly immersed to superficial, usually aggregated in small groups, ca 1-1.5mm high × 0.6-0.7mm diam., each containing a single perithecium. Spores ellipsoid with germ pore and gelatinous sheath.
(Bombardioidea) [146]
142([141])	Stroma spreading on substrate, black brown, firm but not brittle. Ascomata globose, 0.5-1mm, with white hyphae at neck. Spores broad limoniform, 15-19 × 9-10µm.
Wawelia effusa
-	Perithecia globose to pyriform, black, brown or dark grey, produced laterally along the length of fine stromatal strands growing from the dung.	[143]
143([142])	Asci 4-spored.	[144]
-	Asci 8-spored.	[145]
144([143])	Spores 15-18 × 9-12µm. Perithecia up to 400µm diam., dark grey at maturity, single or clustered, the ostiole with a crown of silvery white hyphae. Stromata up to 30 × 0.1-0.5mm.
Wawelia sp.
-	Spores 6-8 × 4-6µm. Stromata conical, white, 5-12 × 1-2mm.
Wawelia regia
145([143])	Perithecia hairy, globose, 350-500µm diam., stromatal strands up to 25mm long. Spores ellipsoid, flattened on one side, 9-12 × 6-8µm.
Wawelia octospora
-	Perithecia villose with conidiophores, globose, 230-420µm diam., produced laterally on stromatic filaments 20-30 × 0.1-0.3mm. Filaments pink at first, with a white pointed tip, becoming brown, velvety with conidiophores. Spores ellipsoid to flattened on one side, 7.5-9.5 × 3-4.5µm.
Wawelia sp. ([fig. 37])