Fungalpedia – Note 1913, Myelospermataceae

 

Myelospermataceae K.D. Hyde & S.W. Wong

Citation when using this data: Hyde KD et al. 2020 – Fungalpedia, Ascomycota.

Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank.

Classification: Xylariales, Xylariomycetidae, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi

Pathogenic or saprobic on various plants. Sexual morph: Pseudostromata weakly raised, visible as blackened ostiolar dots, immersed, multiloculate, clustered around a common central pore. Ascomata in vertical section subglobose or ellipsoidal, brown, necks mostly eccentric leading to the common central pore. Peridium comprising mostly brown-walled, elongate cells, inwardly hyaline and becoming textura intricata and fusing with the host tissue at the outside. Paraphyses numerous, hypha-like, filamentous, septate, unbranched, tapering distally. Asci 8- spored, unitunicate, cylindrical, long-pedicellate, apically rounded, with a J-, refractive, subapical, discoid ring. Ascospores overlapping uniseriate, hyaline, irregularly ellipsoidal, curved or straight, some narrower at the center, some lunate, unicellular, and surrounded by a distinct mucilaginous sheath. Asexual morph: Undetermined (adapted from Maharachchikumbura et al. 2016b).

Notes: Myelospermataceae was introduced by Hyde & Wong (1999) to accommodate Myelosperma. The family has been poorly studied. Four species were reported as saprobic and one species as parasitic (M. parasitica). Most of the species occur on palms (Arecaceae), except M. gigasporum, which was found on unidentified wood. Hyde & Wong (1999) accommodated Myelospermataceae in Diaporthales based on lack of stroma (only pseudostroma present), the valsoid nature of the ascomata, deliquescing paraphyses, and ascus morphology. Subsequently, Kirk et al. (2001) placed the genus in Xylariales, which seemed controversial due to lack of reference taxa and molecular analysis (Eriksson 1999, Kang et al. 2002). Maharachchikumbura et al. (2016b) and Wijayawardene et al. (2017a, 2018a) followed the taxonomy of Kirk et al. (2001) and accepted the family in Xylariales. However, it is still unclear if the family belongs in Xylariales. Due to lack of molecular data, the different morphology from other xylariaceous genera with morphological affinities to Diaporthales, herein we place Myelospermataceae in Xylariomycetidae families, incertae sedis, until further studies can better resolve the placement.

Type genus: Myelosperma Syd. & P. Syd.

 

References

Hyde KD, Cannon PF. 1999 – Fungi causing tar spots on palms. Mycological Papers 175, 1–114.

Kang JC, Kong RYC, Hyde KD. 2002 – Phylogeny of Amhisphaeriaceae (sensu stricto) and related taxa revisited based on nrDNA sequences. Mycotaxon 81, 321–330.

Kirk PM, Cannon PF, David JC, Stalpers JA. 2001 – Ainsworth and Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi, 8th edn. CABI Publishing, London.

Maharachchikumbura SSN, Hyde KD, Jones EBG, McKenzie EHC et al. 2016b – Families of Sordariomycetes. Fungal Diversity 79, 1–317.

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Lumbsch HT, Liu JK et al. 2018a – Outline of Ascomycota: 2017. Fungal Diversity 88, 167–263.

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Rajeshkumar KC, Hawksworth DL et al. 2017a – Notes for genera: Ascomycota. Fungal Diversity 86, 1–594.

 

Entry by

Kevin David Hyde, Institute of Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510225, P.R. China, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, Mushroom Research Foundation, 128 M.3 Ban Pa Deng T. Pa Pae, A. Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, P.R. China, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, World Agroforestry Centre, East and Central Asia, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, P.R. China

 

Published online 5 March 2026

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