Ascoma development in Neophyllis melacarpa (Lecanorales, Ascomycota), withnotes on the systematic position of the genus

The ascoma ontogeny of Neophyllis melacarpa (F.Wilson) F.Wilson is describe d and similarities to Austropeltum glareosum Henssen, Doring & Kantvilas ar e pointed out. Neophyllis is shown to form true podetia as well as pseudopo detia, and an unpigmented boundary tissue of thin-walled, plasma-rich hypha e. Characteristic features include the formation of a boundary tissue separ ating a hypophysiate pseudopodetium from the ascomatal tissue, a large subg lobose hypothecium, and a cortical covering of younger developmental stages . Ascus structure and conidiophore anatomy are described and similarities t o Austropeltum are discussed. The secondary product chemistry of Neophyllis is described in detail, and two chemical taxa, corresponding to the curren tly accepted species N. melacarpa and N. pachyphylla (Mull.Arg.) Schneider, are tentatively accepted. The systematic position of Neophyllis is discuss ed, and the generic distinctness from Gymnoderma is clarified. It is conclu ded that Neophyllis is closely related to Austropeltum, and that there is n o support for regarding Neophyllis as closely related to Cladonia, the gene ric type of Cladoniaceae. The possible affinities of Neophyllis to Stereoca ulaceae and Sphaerophoraceae are discussed, but it is pointed out that the delimitation of all three families needs further investigation.