Vibrisseaceous fungi from the southern hemisphere, including Chlorovibrissea chilensis (Helotiales, incertaesedis) sp. nov.

Abstract

The discovery of Chlorovibrissea chilensis sp. nov. expands the geographic distribution of Chlorovibrissea from Australasia to include South America. C. chilensis, phylogenetically distinct from other species in the genus, is characterized morphologically by its ascoma with emerald green stalk and pale orange brown head, budding paraphyses and 5-6-septate ascospores. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the Australasian species Vibrissea albofusca is recombined in Chlorovibrissea, despite it lacking the distinctive green pigmentation of other species in this genus. In addition, the genus Vibrissea in a strict genetic sense is confirmed from the Southern Hemisphere for the first time; Vibrissea truncorum is reported from Chile and V. flavovirens from New Zealand.