Peridial Anatomy and Pyrenomycete Taxonomy

ABSTRACT

The external morphologies of the peridia of some dark-walled (sphaeriaceous) Pyrenomycetes are described. Peridial anatomy is consistent in some groups at the ordinal or family level, but shows variation at the species level. Members of the Xylariaceae and Diatrypaceae have prosenchymatous peridia, whereas those of other families such as the Sordariaceae and Diaporthaceae have pseudoparenchymatous peridia. Representative species of some other families were examined and their peridial anatomy compared with the major families studied. Peridial anatomy appears to include important characters for use in pyrenomycete taxonomy.

Key Words:

• systematic
• taxonomy
• morphology
• hyphal systems