A new Corollospora from Californian beaches

Corollospora californica is described from six beaches in southern California. Driftwood and washed-up leaves of Phyllospadix sp. were incubated for two months with moist sand from the high water line. Ascomata developed on sand grains attached to the detritus. The new species is compared with C. besarispora, C. filiformis, C. pseudopulchella, and C. pulchella. Ascospores of C. californica occur frequently in foam along the seashore of southern California which has water temperatures between 12 and 23 degrees C. The species appears to be absent in tropical locations and is possibly endemic to the U.S. west coast.