Chlorociboria (fungi, Helotiales) in New Zealand

Fifteen species of Chlorociboria are reported for New Zealand, including 13 new species and one new subspecies. All occur on decorticated wood and all are associated with blue-green staining of that wood. Some species are consistently associated with soft, rotten wood, while others are consistently associated with fallen wood that remains hard and appears more or less intact. The range of morphological variation accepted in the genus is broader than has previously been described, especially with respect to ascospore size and shape. Two of the species have filiform ascospores that coil on release from the asci. Species are distinguished on the basis of variation in ascospore size and shape the presence or absence of either smooth-walled or rough-walled tomentum hyphae, and on macroscopic appearance. The validity of the generic and species concepts was tested using rDNA ITS sequences. Of species previously reported for New Zealand, only C. argentinensis is accepted.