Lichenopyrenis galligena (Pleomassariaceae), a new genus of gall-forming lichenicolous fungi on Leptochidium

The new genus Lichenopyrenis is described for L. galligena, a cecidiogenous species parasitic on the lichen Leptochidium albociliatum. This genus is c haracterized by perithecioid ascomata with a cellular wall, formed by relat ively large, somewhat compressed cells, fissitunicate, I- asci, wide hamath ecium filaments, and I-septate, pale orange brown ascospores with distosept ate thickenings which at maturity are seemingly bulging out of the exospore wall at the septum and apices. The conidia have a rhexolytic type of seces sion, and are attached to the conidiogenous cells by a separating cell. Lic henopyrenis is referred tentatively to the family Pleomassariaceae.