Discinella Schimperi, A Circumpolar Parasite of Sphagnum Squarrosum, and Notes on Bryophytomyces Sphagni

SUMMARY

Apothecia and cultures of Discinella schimperi comb. nov. (= Helotium schimperi) are described from North American material. It has distinctive haustoria which parasitize a type of secretory cell in Sphagnum squarrosum. The presence of these haustoria in herbarium specimens indicates that D. schimperi is a common circumpolar species occurring in Europe, the U.S.S.R., Japan, Canada and the U.S.A. Evidence indicating that Bryophytomyces sphagni is a distinct fungus is presented.