Introduction to Fungi, Third Edition

688 ANAMORPHIC FUNGI
Fig 25.11 Two blastic aquatic hyphomycetes. (a) Articulospora
tetracladia.The arms of the conidia develop successively.
(b) Clavariopsis aquatica.The top-shaped body of the conidium
develops first, followed by simultaneous development of the
three thinner arms.
Fig 25.12 Tricladium splendens. (a) Stages in blastic
development of conidia. A club-shaped main axis develops
lateral arms successively from different points along its length.
(b) Mature detached conidia.
conidia of Articulospora are hyaline. The teleomorph
is an inoperculate discomycete,
Hymenoscyphus tetracladius.
Clavariopsis aquatica (Fig. 25.11b) has dark
mycelium and conidia. The conidia have a
broad, obconical body with a rounded tip
bearing three cylindrical arms which develop
simultaneously. The mature conidium usually
has a single septum in the central body. In
culture, a spermogonial state has been found,
a dark-coloured pycnidium containing minute,
colourless spermatia. The teleomorph belongs to
the genus Massarina (Loculoascomycetes).
Tricladium splendens (Fig. 25.12) also has darkcoloured
mycelium and conidia. The apex of the
conidiophore develops a club-shaped swelling
which becomes septate and forms the main axis
of the conidium. A bud develops at one point on
the main axis, to be followed by a second, at
a different point. The arms taper and are
constricted where they join the main axis. Its
teleomorph is Hymenoscyphus splendens.
Tetrachaetum elegans (Fig. 25.13) has a hyaline
mycelium and conidia which are relatively large,
spanning up to 200 mm. The conidium develops
by the curvature of the main axis which is
narrowly cylindrical. Two laterals arise at a
common point about halfway along the main
axis, and develop simultaneously. Varicosporium
elodeae (Fig. 25.14) and Dendrospora erecta
(Fig. 25.15) bear blastoconidia which are more
highly branched, with further branches developing
from the primary laterals.
Branched conidia with clamp connections and
dolipore septa
A number of branched conidia found in water or
foam have clamp connections at their septa,
showing that they are basidiomycetes. They