THESE BLACKISH ASCOMATA WERE SEMI-IMMERSED IN A HARDWOOD BRANCH (PROBABLY QUERCUS) PARTIALLY BURIED IN THE GROUND, NEXT TO STROMATA OF XYLARIA HYPOXYLON. THE ASCOMATA, UP TO 700 MICRONS LONG, HAVE A BLACKISH PERITHECIAL VENTER IMMERSED UNDER THE WOOD AND A LONG NECK WITH A FIMBRIATED OSTIOLE THAT AGGLUTINATES SPORE BALLS OF DISCHARGED ASCOSPORES.
THE ASCI ARE CYLINDRICAL, WITH A DOUBTFUL OR INCONSPICUOUS APICAL APPARATUS MLZ. NEGATIVE AND THEY HAVE EIGHT OBLIQUELY UNISERIATE ASCOSPORES. THE PARAPHYSES ARE ABUNDANT, IN SOME CASES WITH MONILIFORM SEGMENTS AND THEY EXCEED THE LEVEL OF THE ASCI.
THE MATURE ASCOSPORES ARE BLACISH BROWN, THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE GERM PORE (RED ARROW), SOMETIMES TRANSVERSE SEPTA, A COMPLEX SYMMETRIY AND PERHAPS A SHORT GERM-SLIT ONLY WELL VISIBLE IN MELZER'S REAGENT (BLUE ARROW).
I CANNOT FIND AN APPROPRIATE GENUS FOR THIS FUNGUS, NOT EVEN WITHIN THE MELANOSPORALES, SO I AM ASKING FOR SOME CLUE TO SOLVE THIS ENIGMA.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR.