Daldinia petriniae Y.M. Ju, J.D. Rogers & F. San Martín 1997

Biotope

It grows on the wood of deciduous trees, especially Alnus, preferably on dead parts of still living trees.

Macroscopic and microscopic features

Fruitbody: stroma tough to woody, 20-60 (-80) mm in average, surface dark brick to dark purple-grey, darkening to black with age. Pigments in  10% KOH vividly purple, changing to yeellow or olive and after several minutes to dark brown. 

Microscopy: spores 75-100 µm long, brown to dark brown with elongated rounded endings, perisporium is smooth. Ascus 200-230 x 7-11 µm, with amyloid apex.