NOTES ON BRITISH SPECIES OF OCTOSPORA

Notes on the taxonomy and nomenclature of British taxa referred to Oct ospora and Neottiella are presented, based on an examination of herbar ium collections and literature. Twelve species are recognized in Octos pora. A collection differing from the typical variety of Octospora mel ina in fruiting period and host moss is reported. Neottiella microspor a is considered to be a nomen dubium. It is established that there is no sound basis for the inclusion of Octospora coccinea, O. convexula, O. ithacaensis and O. neglecta in the British list. Octospora vivida i s placed in synonymy with O. rutilans, which is considered to exhibit broad variation in ascospore ornamentation, and O. roxheimii var. aest ivalis is not considered to merit infraspecific distinction; O. roxhei mii has a wider ascospore size range than described in its protologue.