On Xylaria spathulata Berk. & Br

In the Malayan region an interesting ascomycete occurs, which in general appearance resembles a species of Xylaria. It was described from Java by Penzig & Saccardo as Xylaria polysticha (3) and again some years later as Xylaria xanthophaea (4). This may be explained by the fact, that the first name was given to old, discoloured material, whereas the second name refers to fresh well developed specimens exhibiting the typical brown colour. During my long stay in Indonesia I had ample opportunity to collect and study this species, which grows especially in the mountainous regions. One of the most striking characters is the consistency of the stromata, which are conspicuously fleshy and not hard as in Xylaria. Penzig & Saccardo in describing the fungus state in the diagnosis of Xylaria polysticha that it is “carnoso-coriacea” and in that of Xylaria xanthophaea (described from the fresh material) they use the expression “carnosulo-molli”. The perithecia are arranged in the stroma in several layers and the asci and spores are extremely small. The ascospores are typical almondshaped and have a minute germ-pore at the pointed end. All these features clearly indicate, that this fungus is not a species of Xylaria and not even a member of the Xylariaceae. In this family the consistency of the stromata is tough and the ascospores are provided with a long, lateral germ-slit. This led me (1) to establish the family Sarcostromellaceae with the genus Sarcostromella to accomodate such fungi.