5 December 2009 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Synonymns Cerocorticium molare Fruiting Body Irregular resupinate patches, sometimes fusing, covered with blunt spines extending to about 4 mm long, ochraceous, with a whitish margin, to about 4 cm across Flesh Soft, ochraceous Smell Rather pleasant, as per Sparassus crispa Taste Indistinct Season All year Distribution Rare Habitat On dead deciduous wood, favouring oak Spore Print White Microscopic Features Spores ovoid, smooth, mottled (8-11) x (5-7) µm2. Basidia club shaped 4 spored. Marginal cells club shaped. Spines composed of thin intertwined hyphae with many terminating at the surface, giving the appearance of a floor mop. Edibility Unknown Notes This fungus could be confused with Basidioradulum radula. The two species are easily distinguished by examination of the spores with a microscope. 
5 December 2009 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |