, subcylindrical, 1--3-septate, thin-walled, brown, smooth, 20--90 × 2--2.5 μm. *Conidiogenous cells* terminal, subcylindrical or somewhat clavate, uniformly subcylindrical with subobtuse apex, or with a series of irregular, nodulose swellings along the length of the conidiogenous cell, 20--50 × 2--5 μm, brown, becoming paler brown towards apex; fertile part wider than basal part, proliferating sympodially, forming a short rachis with slightly thickened and darkened, circular, somewhat protruding scars, 1 μm diam. *Conidia* solitary, aseptate, guttulate, finely verruculose, pale brown, clavate to ellipsoid, apex obtuse, base truncate, 1 μm diam, slightly darkened and thickened, not refractive, (5−)8--10(−12) × (3−)3.5--4.5(−5) μm.

Culture characteristics --- Colonies after 1 mo at 25 °C in the dark flat, spreading, with sparse aerial mycelium and lobate, feathery margin; reaching 20--30 mm diam. On SNA pale mouse-grey; on PDA olivaceous grey in centre, iron-grey in outer margin and underneath; on OA iron-grey.

Appearance on natural substratum --- Appearance on squash ([Fig. 3c](#F3){ref-type="fig"}) and re-inoculated apple; ramose signs ([@R29]) characterized by olive-grey, smooth mycelial mat with uneven edges consisting of shiny, black, flattened, round sclerotium-like bodies (30--500 μm diam), densely (52--68/cm^2^) to sparsely (6--38/cm^2^) distributed on apple and squash, respectively. As described in [@R4], a modified version of Koch's postulates was performed to verify the signs observed on squash are also observed on apple.

*Specimen examined*. USA, Iowa, Gilbert, on fruit surface of *Cucurbita maxima* (cv. Blue Hubbard), Oct. 2009, *D. Mayfield*, holotype CBS H-20930, ex-type cultures CBS 132090 = CPC 18974 = BHE35b1.

Notes --- Phylogenetically, *R. punctatum* is closely related to an isolate previously identified as *R. mali* (strain LQ45, GenBank EF627451) ([Fig. 2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). However, conidia of *R. mali* were reported as being 3.4--6.2 × 1.6--3 μm (aseptate) and 6-