Comatricha cf. longipila Nann.-Bremek.

Comatricha cf. longipila Nann.-Bremek. View in CoL [0, 1]

Loc 17: On Ags leaves, JRM130, 23 March 2009, (mc, pH = 8.3).

It is scanty material with small, dispersed sporocarps, up to 0.9 mm in total height. Sporotheca cylindric, reddish brown, 0.35 mm width., and 0.75 mm height. The peridium is evanescent. With a stalk that is short, dark, conical, 0.1 mm width., 0.15 mm height, ~12.5% in total height. Columella reaching almost to the sporotheca apex, where it bifurcates into two primary branches. The capillitium with perpendicular primary branches arising along the entire length of the columella, with membranous expansions. The capillitium bifurcates and sometimes anastomoses to form an internal open-mesh net, semi-ridged with numerous free ends and sharps. Spores globose, with prominent warts, 9.3–9.6 µm diam.

Mapimí specimens are closer to Comatricha longipila , from which it differs by having larger spores (6.5–7.0 µm diam. according to the original description by Nannenga-Bremekamp in 1962). Nonetheless, the sharp free ends, dichotomous, as well as the short stalk of our specimens appear typical to C. longipila , this species was originally described in the Netherlands by Nannenga-Bremekamp (1962) and in Mexico it has only been reported in Veracruz ( López et al. 1981). If confirmed, this species would be the second record for the Neotropical region ( Lado & Wrigley de Basanta 2008).