Laboulbenia exigua and related taxa (Ascomycetes,Laboulbeniales)

TheLaboulbenia exigua group comprises seven species. Three of these species are described as new to science, and two new varieties ofL. exigua and one new variety ofL. balazucii are distinguished and described. New taxa areL. yamadae, L. consobrina, L. gebleri, L. exigua var.yaeyamae, L. exigua var.melanolabiata andL. balazucii var.exilis. This fungus group is characterized by grayish yellow to gray-brown thalli with simple inner and outer appendages, dark-spotted or streaked receptacles, and perithecia containing narrow ascospores 3–4–(–5) µm in width; the species and varieties occur onChlaenius (Carabidae) and closely allied taxa. The bilobed apex of mature perithecium, owing to the rounded apices of the posterior apical cells of the outer wall cell rows, and 3-celled, curved inner appendage in young thalli, and the deciduous antheridium are also characteristic of this group.