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Thelephora lapida (Pers.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

Syn.: Tomentella lapida (Pers.) Stalpers 1984                                                                  

                                             

Basidiome: adherent, loosely felty to mold-like
Hymenophore: smooth, gray to violet-brownish
Margin: same color as the hymenophore, usually inconspicuous, occasionally byssoid
Rhizomorphs: rare
Subiculum: same color as or lighter than the hymenophore

Subicular hyphae: brownish, with clamps, thick-walled, encrusted, 5-8 µm wide
Subhymenial hyphae: hyaline to brownish, often cyanescent, with clamps, thin-walled, partially encrusted (clearly visible in H₂O), 3.5-7 µm wide
Cystidia: absent
Basidia: hyaline, often cyanescent, with basal clamp
Spores: brownish, partially cyanescent, regularly to irregularly rounded or triangular in frontal view, rounded to broadly elliptical in lateral view, 7.5-9.5 µm, spines up to 2 µm long

Distribution: worldwide in temperate regions, common in the Alps, considered a widespread species in Germany
Note: This species is microscopically very variable and may represent a complex of species. The differences lie in spore shape, length of spore spines, and hyphal encrustation. The apiculus of the spores of the very similar species Thelephora fuliginea is amyloid. Thelephora lapida is related to Thelephora neobourdotii, which is characterized by smaller spores and narrower subicular hyphae.

 

Tom_lapida

Zeichnung: H. Maser