Bryophilous ascomycetes

a primer for mycologists

Abstract

Ascomycetes on bryophytes are generally understudied. This is partly because bryologists find mycology challenging, while mycologists find bryophytes challenging. The minute size of many bryophilous ascomycetes hinders their detection, added to by their specific, sometimes hidden, microniches on their host plants. Despite being a rather difficult discipline, the study of bryophilous ascomycetes can be highly rewarding, with plenty of undescribed species and interesting interactions. This brief review serves as a primer for the study of bryophilous ascomycetes by field mycologists. It highlights some common yet overlooked species that are likely to be found on mycological forays and discusses some of the methods used for the identification and processing of bryophyte-fungal samples.