Anomalomyces Vánky, M. Lutz & R.G. Shivas

Anomalomyces panici Vánky, R.G. Shivas & M. Lutz

Sori in hypertrophied ovaries of Poaceae, covered by a peridium, lacking a columella, divided into incomplete irregular compartments by membranes of host tissue permeated by hyphae.

Spores brown (without violet or reddish tints), forming permanent spore balls; outermost spores in the balls covered by a layer of dark-pigmented material.

Spore germination resulting in phragmobasidia producing basidiospores laterally and terminally.

Sterile cells between the spore ballsof 2 types, large and thick-walled and small and thin-walled.

Anomalomyces differs from Sporisorium in having sori that lack a columella and are traversed and divided into irregular and incomplete compartments by membranes of host tissue permeated by hyphae. Furthermore, the spore balls are unique in having a thick, dark layer on the surface of the free wall of the outermost spores, a result of the deposition of a pigmented substance on the external surface of young spore balls during their development. The presence of two distinct types of sterile cells between the spore balls is also diagnostic.

Anomalomyces has true spore balls that can be observed in serial sections of the sori. It thereby differs from Macalpinomyces, which has spore balls resulting from fragmentation and disintegration of spore masses, i.e. ‘pseudo’ spore balls mixed with sterile cells.

This monotypic genus is endemic to northern Australia (NT).