Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Xerula furfuracea

Xerula furfuracea (Peck) Redhead, Ginns & Shoemaker

Solitary in soil, associaterd with Betula alleghaniensis and Tsuga heterophylla, Canoose Flowage Protected Natural Area, New Brunswick (11-08-17]03).

Basidiospores white in spore print, broadly ellipsoidal to ovoid, hyaline. smooth, without iodine reactions, 14.0-17.3 X 10.2-13.3 μm, D/d = 1.29-1.46 (average[26]: 15.4 X 11.2 μm, D/d = 1.37). Cheilocystidia lining the gelatinous lamellar margin, ventricose. Pleurocystidia ventricose, abruptly rounded at the apex.

Recognized by its long rooting stipe covered with short hairs. Microscopically it is characterized by the gelatinous lamellar edges, large and rather abruptly rounded pleurocystidia and large basidiospores. The peculiar gelatinous margin of the gills bearing cheilocystidia is also characteristic. The cheilocystidia are difficult to revive in dried specimens, but otherwise it would be an excellent mushroom for inexperienced microscopists because of its large cystidia, hymeniform pileipellis and large spores.

Photograph: David Malloch (11-08-17]03).