Aquatic Hyphomycetes, including Heliscus tentaculus, new species, on decaying angiosperm materials

Abstract

In a preliminary survey of the aquatic hyphomycete flora occurring on submerged, decaying angiosperm debris from streams and ponds in the Blacksburg area of Montgomery County, Virginia, 13 species representing II genera were found. The species were described, and sporogenesis in each species was discussed. One species, heliscus tentaculus, had not been described previously, and was proposed as a new species. The methods and techniques used in the isolation and establishment of pure cultures were described, and the cultural characteristics of five species grown in pure culture were discussed. A brief discussion of the possible significance of the spore shapes and the formation of appressoria was presented in regard to the facility with which these spores become attached to the substratum. The apparent host specificity exhibited by camplyospora chaeto-cladia rans., with respect to its occurrence in other localities was discussed. The idea was advanced that the perfect stages for some of these fungi might be found growing internally within the vascular tissues of the host plants.