ASCOVAGINOSPORA STELLIPALA GEN. ET SP. NOV. FROM SPHAGNUM BOGS

Ascovaginospora stellipala, a new genus and species, is described and illustrated. This species occurs on submerged dead stems and leaves of Carex limosa collected from two sphagnum bogs in northern Wisconsin. Based on morphological and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data, this s pecies is placed in Lasiosphaeriaceae, Sordariales. The ascospores of A. stellipala are one celled, hyaline, rhomboid, and are surrounded by a tetraradiate sheath the arms of which elongate in water.