THE TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY OF TRYBLIDIOPSIS-PINASTRI

Tryblidiopsis pinnstri (Pers.:Fr) P. Karsten, an ascomycete common on twigs and branches of Picea spp. is redescribed and illustrated. Tryblidiopsis piceae Velenovsky is synonymized with T. pinastri and other species of Tryblidiopsis are briefly reviewed. The taxonomic position of the genus Tryblidiopsis is reviewed, concluding that it is correctly placed in the order Rhytismatales for which a new and detailed circumscription is provided. Families of that order are briefly discussed, and Tryblidiopsis is disposed in the Rhytismataceae. Tryblidiopsis pinastri is reported from trunk bark of dying mature trees. Aspects of its biology and ecology are discussed.