Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Xeromphalina tenuipes

Xeromphalina tenuipes (Schwein.) A.H. Sm.

Scattered (3) on decayed hardwood log in forest dominated by Fagus grandifolia and Acer saccharum, Spednic Lake Protected Natural Area, New Brunswick (17-06-18/04).

Basidiospores white in spore print, ellipsoidal to suballantaoid, smooth, amyloid, 6.0-8.6 X 3.3-4.0 µm, D/d = 1.69-2.30 (average[30]: 7.3 X 3.6 µm, D/d = 2.02). Cheilocystidia forming a continuous sterile margin, narrow and hypha-like, tortuous, often branched. Basidia 4-spored, ventricose and acuminate to submucronate at first, narrowly clavate at maturity. Clamp connections present, often as medallion clamps. Pileipellis not gelatinous, consisting of a loosely interwoven layer of dark brown hyphae and cystidium-like elements overlying a more compact layer. Pileal and lamellar trama regular, composed of gelatinous hyphae.

Easily recognized by its dull brown pileus, densely velvety and tough stipe and growth on dead hardwood. Microscopically is is characterized by its curved amyloid basidiospores, gelatinous trama and narrow branched cheilocystidia with partially gelatinous cell walls. A second collection (17-06-18/06) was found in the same locality on a log about 100 meters from Collection 17-06-18/06 and was indistingishable both macro- and microscopically.

Photograph: D. Malloch (17-06-18/04).