Terriera tongrenensis Y. H. Cheng & C. L. Hou 2024, sp. nov.

Terriera tongrenensis Y.H. Cheng & C.L. Hou, sp. nov. (Figs 2–3) MycoBank number: MB854926 Diagnosis:— Terriera tongrenensis is similar to Terriera aequabilis Qing Li & Y.R. Lin, but Terriera tongrenensis has the covering stroma consisting of an innermost layer with a few thin-walled, hyaline, angular to globose cells near the opening and extending to the basal stroma, the absence of an excipulum and the internal matrix of stroma, a thinner subhymenium and the absence of zone lines. Holotype:— CHINA, Guizhou Province, Tongren, Fodingshan National Nature Reserve, 27.1945 N; 108.8039 E, alt. ca. 724 m, On dead leaves of unknown species, 19 August 2019, T. Lv and S. R. Cai, HOU 1526 (BJTC 20230608). Etymology:—Referring to the name of the city (Tongren) where the specimen was collected. Saprobic on abaxial surface of dead leaves. Sexual morph: Ascomata scattered, occasionally confluent with bleached, pale brown areas. In surface view, ascomata elliptical, straight or slightly curved, 367–667 × 250–370 μm, dark brown to brown, slightly raising above the surface of the host tissue at maturity, with an obvious preformed, slight curve, dehiscence line, opening by a longitudinal split. Lips absent. In median vertical section, ascomata intraepidermal. Covering stroma 10–40 μm thick near the centre of the ascomata, extending to the basal stroma, consisting of an outer layer of host cuticle and remains of epidermal cells filled with fungal tissues, an inner layer of carbonized, thick-walled, angular and globose cells, and an innermost layer with a few thin-walled, hyaline, angular to globose cells near the opening and extending to the basal stroma. Along the edge of the ascoma opening, there is an 18–40 × 10–15 μm, extension comprised of strongly melanized tissue with no obvious cellular structure. Basal stroma 5−10 µm thick, consisting of thick-walled, angular to globose cells. A space triangular in vertical section between the covering stroma and the basal stroma at the margin of the ascoma is filled with 19−36 µm thick, vertically oriented rows of colorless, thin-walled cylindrical cells. Subhymenium 7−15 µm thick, consisting of hyaline, globose cells. Paraphyses 68−117 × 1−2 µm, filiform, septate, unbranched, swollen to 2–5 μm at their tips, hyaline, thin-walled, covered by a thin gelatinous sheath, not forming an epithecium. Asci 60–100 × 5–6 μm (x̄ = 79.7 × 5.45, n=20), 8-spored, ripening sequentially, cylindrical, apex obtuse to round, short-stalked, hyaline, thin-walled, J−, apical ring. Ascospores 30–70 × ca. 1 μm (x̄= 51.5 × 1.0, n=20), filiform, tapering slightly towards both ends, hyaline, aseptate, pluriguttulate, covered by a thin gelatinous sheath. Asexual morph: Conidiomata and zone lines not observed. Additional specimen examined:— CHINA, Guizhou Province, Tongren, Fodingshan National Nature Reserve, 27.1945 N; 108.8039 E, alt. ca. 750 m, On dead leaves of unknown species, 19 August 2019, C.L. Hou, T. Lv and S. R. Cai, HOU 1560 (BJTC 20230609, isotype). Known distribution:—Known only from Guizhou Province, China.