On a fallen rotten deciduous tree trunk. 23 December 2021 Bramdean Common, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Fruiting Body Forms a mat of narrowly conical downward pointing spines growing directly from the substrate, each spine separated from the others, initially white, becoming yellowish with age, each spine grows to about 2 mm in length Flesh Very soft, whitish Smell Indistinct Taste Unknown Season All year Distribution Rarely reported Habitat On rotten wood from coniferous and deciduous trees Spore Print White Microscopic Features Spores broadly ellipsoidal, smooth, amyloid (4-6) x (2.5-3.5) µm2. Basidia club shaped, 4 spored, basal clamp. Hyphal system monomitic, clamps present, hyphae 3 to 6 µm wide. Cystidia absent. Edibility Unknown but too small to be worthwhile 
A crop from the first image. 23 December 2021 Bramdean Common, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Spores in Melzer's solution viewed with a x100 immersion objective. 23 December 2021 Bramdean Common, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
The tip of a spine in Congo Red solution viewed with a x40 objective. 23 December 2021 Bramdean Common, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |