New hyphomycetes from Restionaceae in fynbos: Parasarcopodium ceratocaryi gen. et sp. nov., and Rhexodenticula elegiae sp. nov.

Two new hyphomycetous anamorphs were isolated from plant hosts of the Restionaceae in the fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa. Parasarcopodium ceratocaryi gen. et sp. nov. on Ceratocaryum decipiens produces aseptate, cylindrical conidia with amorphous mucoid appendages at both ends in rows or whorls of phialides on verruculose, mononematous conidiophores. Rhexodenticula elegiae sp. nov. on Elegia capensis produces pale brown, fusiform or broadly fusiform, 3-septate conidia on denticles located in the upper part of smooth, geniculate conidiophores. The morphological characteristics of both taxa are described, illustrated, and contrasted to other morphologically similar fungi. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of Parasarcopodium, partial large subunit rRNA (28S) gene sequence was generated from the ex-type strain, which revealed it to be a member of the Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales).