Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Arrhenia epichysium

Arrhenia epichysium (Pers.) Redhead, Lutzoni, Moncalvo & Vilgalys

Gregarious (3) among mosses on rotting log of Acer sp., Spednic Lake Protected Natural Area, New Brunswick (17-08-17/01)

Basidiospores hyaline, ellipsoidal to ovoid to obovoid, smooth, inamyloid, 6.1-8.6 X 4.2-5.6 μm, D/d = 1.22-1.82 (average[25]: 7.4 X 4.7 μm, D/d = 1.57. Cheilo- and pleurocystidia not found. Pileipellis a cutis, composed of narrow hyphae bearing conspicuous brown encrustations

Arrhenia epichysium is usually reported on highly rotted wood in association with mosses. In common with other species of Arrhenia, A. epichysium is probably associated with mosses and does not primarily rot wood. It is a rather nondescript little mushroom recognized by its brown colour, lack of a distinctive odour and deeply depressed pileus. It is characterized microscopically by the presence of clamp connections and the strongly encrusted hyphae of the pileipellis. Although some authors have reported the presence of cheilocystidia, the collection reported here has none or, if present, they are not well differentiated from the basidia.

Photo: D. Malloch (17-08-17/01)