6. The genus Lophium Fries
Syst. Myc.. II, 1823, 534
Lophidium Karsten, Bidrag. Kannedom Finl&s Nat. Folk 23: 33 (1873).
   
Lophium mytilinum (Pers.) Fries
The genus Lophium Fr.
by E.W.A. Boehm
The genus Lophium Fr. was established by Fries (1823) and is characterized by carbonaceous conchate ascocarps, usually seated on a foot-like base, immersed in the substrate. The thin-walled scleroparenchymatous peridium encloses a basal hamathecium of narrow trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, with elongate asci bearing single fasicles of traversely septate filiform ascospores, often spirally arranged. The type species, Lophium mytilinum Pers.:Fr., is cosmopolitan in the temperate zones and has been recorded from both sides of the Atlantic (Barr 1990; Zogg 1962). Zogg (1962) described two additional species, L. elegans Zogg on Juniperus in alpine regions of France, Italy and Switzerland and L. mayori Zogg on Pinus and Larix from the Swiss and French alps, noting that the latter differed from other species of Lophium in having rigid, band-forming ascomata. Vasilyeva (2001) found the same fungus in the Russian Far East and stated that it differed sufficiently from other species of Lophium in having gross, erumpent crowded ascomata, band- or ridge-like in appearance, as compared to the smaller, fragile and entirely superficial fruitbodies typical of species of Lophium and made the transfer to Zoggium mayori (Zogg) Vasilyeva. The genus shows morphological similarities to the genus Mytilinidion, specifically to the subgenus Lophiopsis sensu Lohman (1932).
Barr (1990): “Ascomata superficial with bases immersed in substrate, separate or gregarious, conchate, medium to large sized; apex cristate, opening by longitudinal slit; surface black, usually striate; peridium carbonaceous, brittle,, composed of small, thick-walled cells, oriented vertically in surface view. Asci basal cylindric. Trabeculae sparse in gel matrix. Ascospores light yellowish brown, filiform, ends obtuse, multiseptate; wall thin, smooth; guttulate; in a fascicle & often spirally wound in the ascus. Anamorphic states coelomycetous, condidiomata produced in culture & in nature, or hyphomycetous (Papulaspora bulbils formed in culture & on substrate). On wood, periderm, twigs of gymnosperms. Type species: L. mytilinum Persoon: Fries. Only the type species is known from North America. Zogg (1962) confirmed that Fries Scler. suec. n. 60 was identical with modern conepts of this taxon that occurs on members of Pinaceae & Cupressaceae in Europe & North America. Zogg (1962) included two additional species in Lophium, both European. Lophium elegans Zogg has narrow ascomata, ascospores tightly spirally coiled in the ascus, & develops on twigs of Juniperus in alpine regions of France, Italy & Switzerl & Lophium mayori Zogg has more elongate ascomata, short & wide ascospores & develops on old wood of Pinus & Larix in alpine regions of France & Switzerl&. This species shows some affinities to Mytilinidion australe Lohman, on old wood of Pinus in Louisiana.”
Wehmeyer (1975): “Lophium has shell-shaped ascostromata & filiform, septate, ascospores lying parallel to one another the full length of the ascus. Lohman (1933) found two conidial states of Lophium mytilinum. One consists of spore balls of Papulospora mytilina, which originate as coiled hyphae that develop into multicellular heads. The other is a pycnidial state of the from genus Dothiorella, consisting of clusters of blackened, immersed pycnidia with erumpent ostioles & forming ellipsoid, one celled hyaline conidia. Zogg (1962) has placed species with flattened “hatchet-shaped” ascocarps in a separate genus Glyphium.”
Dichotomous Key to species of Lophium Fries
(From Zogg 1962)
A. Fruitbody upright, erect, conchiform or mussel-shaped.
1. Ascomata prominently borne on a stalk. Ascospores very long scolecospores with many traverse septa; arranged in parallel in ascus; mature ascospores actually part-spores, breaking up at maturity; mature spores pigmented; measuring (130) 170 – 250 (300) μm:
= Lophium mytilinum (Pers.) Fries
2. Ascomata upright, but with a less prominent stalk. Ascospores very long scolecospores as above, but in ascus arranged in spiral parallel configuration; mature ascospores actually part-spores, breaking up at maturity as above; mature spores pigmented; ca. 1.5x larger than ascus when fully extended; measuring (200) 260 – 280 (300) x 2 μm:
= Lophium elegans Zogg
B. Fruitbody mussel-shaped to horizontal recumbent elongated; ascospores long scolecospores, in ascus borne in parallel, non-spiraling rows; measuring (60) 80 – 100 (110) x 3 – 4 (5) μm:
= Lophium mayori Zogg
Detailed Dichotomous Key to species of Lophium Fries
(From Zogg 1962)
A. Fruitbody upright, erect, conchiform or mussel-shaped.
1. Ascomata prominently borne on a stalk. Ascospores very long scolecospores with many traverse septa; arranged in parallel in ascus; mature ascospores actually part-spores, breaking up at maturity; mature spores pigmented; measuring (130) 170 – 250 (300) μm:
= Lophium mytilinum (Pers.) Fries
Syst. Myc.. II, 1823, 533-534. Common, cosmopolitan world-wide in coniferous forests (Europe & North America). Collected from bark & stems, dead wood & cones of Pinus, Larix, Picea, Abies & Juniperus.
Hysterium mytilinum Pers., 1801
Lophium mytilinellum Fries, 1823
Lophidium mytilinellum (Fr.) Karst., 1873
Ellis & Everhart (1892): “ Sub-pedicillate, dilated above, transversely striate, shining black. Asci cylindrical, 140 – 160 x 9 – 10 μm with a short, thick stipe, eight-spored, with slender, septate, hyaline, branching paraphyses. Ascospores filiform, 120 – 140 x 1.5 – 2 μm, 18 – 20 guttulate, hyaline. On bark of Pine & Spruce. Generally arising from a black, effused, indeterminate crust in which the stipe is concealed. Fructifications fragile, of medium size. We have given the diagnosis of this species, though it is uncertain whether it has yet been found in this country.”
Lohman, M.L. (1933): “Fruiting abundantly on bark & exposed wood of dead branches of Pinus sylestris L., & P. strobus L. Also on cones of P. ponderosa & on old stumps of Larix laricina. Collected in Sept. & Nov. Mature hysterothecia 0.4 – 0.7 x 0.1 – 0.5mm, the height equaling or exceeding the width; asci 150 – 190 x 7 – 8 μm; ascospores (120) 140 – 175 x 2 μm, yellowish hyaline, filiform & 18 – 20 septate. Anamorphic stages: dematiaceous hyphomycete Papulispora mytilina (Pers.) Lohman & coelomycetous pycnidia.”
Barr (1990): “Ascomata 500 μm to 1mm high & wide, laterally compressed, 200 – 300 μm wide in side view; peridium narrow. Asci 140 – 190 (-300) x 6 – 8 (-10) μm. Ascospores 120 – 175 (-300) x 1 – 2 μm, 18 – 20 septate. Anamorph coelomycetous: compound conidiomata (250-) 400 – 600 μm diam., one large or several small centra, opening by several papillate ostioles; conidiogenous cells short, (2.5-) 3 5 x 2 – 2.5 μm; conidia 1.5 – 2 (-2.5) s 1 – 1.5 μm, hyaline, oblong, one celled; hyphomycetous Papulaspora bulbils 15 – 18 x 10 – 12 μm, coiled structures (Lohman, 1933). Distribution: On gymnosperms, north temperate zone (Finl&, Canada, USA: Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont on Abies balsamea,& Juniperus. Note: The peridium of immature ascomata is two layered: the outer composed of small, dark, vertically oriented rows of cells, the inner composed of hyaline, transversely oriented rows of cells.”
Lophium mytilinum (Pers.) Fries
2. Ascomata upright, but with a less prominent stalk. Ascospores very long scolecospores as above, but in ascus arranged in spiral parallel configuration; mature ascospores actually part-spores, breaking up at maturity as above; mature spores pigmented; ca. 1.5x larger than ascus when fully extended; measuring (200) 260 – 280 (300) x 2 μm:
= Lophium elegans Zogg
Ber. Schweiz. Bot. Ges., 1954, 64, 139-141. Rare. Europe (Italy, Switzerl&, Southern maritime France). On living or dead Juniperus.
B. Fruitbody mussel-shaped to horizontal recumbent elongated; ascospores long scolecospores, in ascus borne in parallel, non-spiraling rows; measuring (60) 80 – 100 (110) x 3 – 4 (5) μm:
= Lophium mayori Zogg
Ber. Schweiz. Bot. Ges., 1952, 62, 291-295. Rare. Europe: Alpine Switzerl & France. Collected from old weathered conifer wood of Pinus & Larix.
Note: Lophium mayori Zogg recently synonimized to Zoggium mayori (Zogg) Lar. N. Vassiljeva. Vasilyeva, L. N. 2001. Hysteriaceous fungi in the Russian Far East IV. Glyphium, Lophium & Mytilinidion: Mikologiya i Fitopatologiya, Vol. 35 (1). 15-18.
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