When is a stalk 'Not a stalk'

[Ditiola]

I collected this Dacrymyces recently growing on deciduous wood. The keys say: If it is pulvinate with a short stalk and thin walled slightly smaller spores it is D.capitatus.

This specimen has spores the right size (9-15 microns long, this agrees with Ellis & Ellis) and they are thin walled and three-septate. However, many of the fruit bodies appear sessile while others show a broad stalk-like base.

Could this be D.capitatus or should I just call it D.stillatus

Peter

[SheffieldLass]

Hi Peter

This might be of interest.

California Fungi: Dacrymyces capitatus

Dacrymyces capitatus is closely related to Dacrymyces stillatus and like the latter forms small, cushion-shaped fruiting bodies. It differs, however in possessing a rooted base, and smaller basidiospores. Another distinguishing feature, though not definitive, is the tendency of Dacrymyces stillatus to produce "imperfect" fruitings, i.e. where only conidia (arthrospores) are formed, typically in chains. At other times, however, sexual fruitings may predominate, or both sexual and asexual spores may occur on the same fruiting body.

Also Fungi of Switzerland mentions the rooting character for D capitatus.

Melanie

[Ditiola]

Thanks Melanie. It seems that there is not a lot of difference between the two, and I think the difference in spore size is negligible. I did not observe a 'Rooting Base' or any conidospores, so I think I will opt for plain old stillatus.

Peter