INTRODUCTION

The type species of Whalleya proposed herein, W. microplaca, has long been recognized as an atypical member of Biscogniauxia (or Nummularia) based upon its scolecosporous conidia, small ascospores, white fungal tissue surrounding perithecia, and hosts in Families Lauraceae and Myrtaceae (and see Glawe and Rogers, 1986). Its possible relationship with Family Diatrypaceae has been noted and discussed (Glawe and Rogers, 1986).

Our first encounter with a Biscogniauxia-like taxon with wet scolecosporous conidia occurred with Nummularia viridis Theiss. (Ju et al., 1993). Further investigations have revealed other taxa with similar anamorphs and having, in addition, dry Geniculosporium-like synanamorphs. Anamorphic features are correlated with generally small ascospores and stromatal interiors containing host material. Jumillera is proposed to accommodate taxa with such characters.

The wet scolecosporous conidium associated with stromatal locules or conidiomata has been encountered in several Anthostomella species (unpublished), Creosphaeria sassafras (Schwein.: Fr.) Y.-M. Ju, J. D. Rogers, & San Martín (Ju et al., 1993), Lopadostoma turgidum (Pers.: Fr.) Traverso (possibly var. minus Sacc.) (Ju et al., 1993), and L. polynesium (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Rappaz (Rappaz, 1995). The latter taxon and two others that Rappaz put in subgenus Anthostomopsis Rappaz of Lopadostoma (Rappaz, 1995) are not currently accepted by us as Lopadostoma species. In our opinion they probably represent a distinct genus. In any case, there seem to be several essentially unrelated groups of taxa in the Xylariaceae that feature, among other characters, wet scolecosporous conidia. This is a cryptic character that usually is discovered only by culturing.

Lopadostoma pouzarii Granmo & L. E. Petrini has an anamorph reminiscent of that of Whalleya microplaca (Granmo and Petrini, 1996; unpublished data). Cultures on OMA are relatively slow-growing and lack a green reverse. Conidia are dry scolecospores borne on strongly denticulate conidiogenous cells that proliferate in a Geniculosporium-like manner. Thus, in Lopadostoma spp. as well as among taxa formerly placed in Biscogniauxia (as Nummularia) there appear to be both wet and dry conidia, respectively. It is possible that future studies will indicate desirable rearrangements within Lopadostoma. It is even possible that the generic limits of Whalleya will require reconsideration.

The resemblances of stromata and anamorphs of taxa of Whalleya and of Jumillera to diatrypaceous fungi are striking. Nonetheless, the characteristic diatrypaceous ascus and allantoid ascospore are not really approached by these fungi. Thus, the interface between the Diatrypaceae and Xylariaceae-if one truly exists-is unclear. What we observe might represent convergent evolution reflecting selection pressure on structures (scolecoconidia, etc.) that are advantageous for exploiting common bark habitats.

Jumillera and Whalleya can be easily separated from Biscogniauxia by culturing. The latter genus often produces thin, fast-growing colonies with abundant conidia on SMEA and lanose colonies with a characteristic dark green reverse that blackens on OMA. Jumillera and Whalleya produce much slower-growing colonies devoid of a dark green reverse on both media. Anamorphs of these three genera are strikingly different. Characters separating these genera are given in Table 1. Although culturing is highly desirable in separating Jumillera, Whalleya, and Biscogniauxia, several new combinations and a new species have been erected for taxa that are (seem to be) infrequently encountered and which we have not had opportunity to culture.

Table 1. Comparison of Biscogniauxia, Jumillera, and Whalleya