In an excellent and fascinating paper, Peter Döbbeler discusses the different “microniches” that the fruitbodies of bryophilous ascomycetes may be found on the gametophyte generations of bryophytes. If any of this information is useful, please cite the following papers, as the below information is merely a summary. I have used updated nomenclature for the example fungi (some of which are different to those in the paper) and hosts.
- Döbbeler, P. (2002). Microniches occupied by bryophilous ascomycetes. Nova Hedwigia, 75(3-4): 275–306.
- Döbbeler, P., & Feuerer, T. (2004). Stenocybe nitida (Mycocaliciales), an unusual ascomycete on Plagiochila punctata. Biblioth. Lichenol., 88: 91–102. [for the addition of leafless lower shoots of leafy liverworts]
Microniches of thalloid liverworts:
1. Ascomata on the dorsal (top) thallus surface.
- E.g., Pezoloma marchantiae on Marchantia polymorpha.
2. Ascomata immersed within the thallus.
- E.g., Atradidymella sp. (Didymosphaeria marchantiae) on M. polymorpha.
[ 3. Ascomata on the ventral surface and perforating from below.
- E.g. Bryocentria hypothallina on Metzgeria furcata
Bracketed because Metzgeria is now known to technically be a leafy liverwort ]Microniches of leafy liverworts:
1. Ascomata irregularly scattered on plants
- E.g., Pithyella chalaudii on Frullania dilatata.
2. Ascomata immersed within stems
- E.g., Bryorella semi-immersa on Lophoziaceae (not yet found in the British Isles)
3. Ascomata in the leaf axils
- E.g., Pleostigma jungermannicola on Plagiochila.
4. Ascomata on the dorsal leaf surface
- E.g., Epibryon plagiochilae on Plagiochila.
5. Ascomata on the margins of the ventral leaf surface
- E.g., Epibryon craspedum on Radula complanata (not yet known in the British Isles).
6. Ascomata on the ventral surface and perforating through
- E.g., Bryocentria brongniartii on Frullania dilatata.
7. Ascomata within the outermost cell walls of the leaves
- E.g., Bryomyces jungermanniae on Schistochila aligera (not in Europe).
8. Ascomata immersed within the leaves
- E.g., Epibryon intercellulare on Bazzania trilobata (not yet known in the British Isles).
9. Ascomata within single host leaf cells
- E.g., Epibryon endocarpum on Plagiochila asplenioides (not known in British Isles).
10. Ascomata within perianths
- E.g., Periantria frullaniae on Frullania dilatata.
11. Ascomata on leafless stems (Döbbeler & Feuerer, 2005)
- E.g., Stenocybe nitida on Plagiochila punctata.Microniches of Mosses (excluding Polytrichales)
1. Ascomata on rhizoids and / or protonema
- E.g., Lamprospora dictydiola on Tortula muralis rhizoids; Octospora mnii on Rhizomnium punctatum protonema.
2. Ascomata on leafless stems
- E.g., Bryosphaeria quinqueseptata on Hypnum sp. (not yet known in British Isles).
3. Ascomata immersed in shoot apices
- E.g., Bryostroma racomitrii on Racomitrium lanuginosum (not known in British Isles).
4. Ascomata irregularly scattered on or between leaves
- E.g., Acrospermum adeanum on multiple hosts (mainly pleurocarps).
5. Ascomata on the hyaline hair points of the leaves
- Bryochiton monascus on Grimmiaceae.
6. Ascomata perforating the leaves
- Hypobryon heterotropum on Leucodon sciuroides (not known in British Isles)
7. Ascomata immersed within the leaf tissues (multistratose leaves)
- Epibryon leucobryi on extra-European Leucobryum spp. (no similar taxa known on British Leucobryum species)Microniches of Polytrichales
1. Ascomata on rhizoids (and protonema)
- E.g., Neottiella rutilans on Polytrichum juniperinum rhizoids.
2. Ascomata within the antheridial cups
- E.g., Lizonia baldinii on Polytrichum formosum.
3. Ascomata in leaf axils
- E.g., Protothelenella petri on Polytrichum juniperinum
4. Ascomata on top of leaf lamellae
- E.g., Epibryon elegantissimum on southern hemisphere Polytrichaceae.
5. Ascomata immersed between leaf lamellae
- E.g., Epibryon interlamellare on various Polytrichaceae
6. Ascomata between inflexed lamina and lamellae
- E.g., Bryonectria phyllogena on Polytrichum juniperinum (not known in British Isles)
7. Ascomata beneath the cuticle on the abaxial (bottom) leaf surface
- E.g., Bryochiton perpusillus on Polytrichum piliferum
8. Ascomata within the abaxial (bottom) leaf nerves
- E.g., Massarina immersa on Polytrichum juniperinum and P. piliferum.
Bryophilous fungi 