Exidia purpureocinerea

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Exidia purpureocinerea
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Auriculariales
Family: Auriculariaceae
Genus: Exidia
Species:
E. purpureocinerea
Binomial name
Exidia purpureocinerea
MacOwan (1882)

Exidia purpureocinerea is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are gelatinous, densely covered in small spines, purple-grey, and cushioned-shaped at first, becoming effused. The species occurs in southern Africa on dead wood.

Contents

Taxonomy

The species was originally described from Boschberg (in the Sneeuberge) in 1882 by Yorkshire-born, South African botanist and mycologist Peter MacOwan. [1]

Description

Exidia purpureocinerea forms purple-grey, gelatinous fruit bodies that are cushion-shaped at first, later coalescing to become irregularly effused. The surface is densely covered in small spines. The spore print is white. [1] [2]

Microscopic characters

The microscopic characters are typical of the genus Exidia . The basidia are ellipsoid, septate, 14 to 18 by 10.5 to 12  μm. The spores are weakly allantoid (sausage-shaped), 14 to 18 by 4.5 to 5.5 μm. [2]

Similar species

The original description notes that Exidia purpureocinerea is similar to Exidia glandulosa , but differs in its colour and denser smaller papillae (spines). [1] [3] The densely spiny, coalescing fruit bodies are typical of the genus Tremellochaete and the South African species resembles the New Zealand species Tremellochaete novozealandica .

Habitat and distribution

Exidia purpureocinerea is a wood-rotting species. It is currently only known from South Africa. [2] [3]

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<i>Exidia recisa</i> Species of fungus

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<i>Exidia thuretiana</i> Species of fungus

Exidia thuretiana is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. The fruit bodies are white and gelatinous with brain-like folds. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached or fallen branches of broadleaf trees, especially beech.

<i>Myxarium nucleatum</i> Species of fungus

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<i>Auricularia auricula-judae</i> Species of fungus

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<i>Auricularia nigricans</i> Species of fungus

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<i>Auricularia angiospermarum</i> Species of fungus

Auricularia angiospermarum is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps (fruitbodies) are gelatinous, ear-like, and grow on dead wood of broadleaf trees. It is a North American species and was formerly confused with Auricularia auricula-judae which is confined to Europe.

<i>Myxarium</i> Genus of fungi

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<i>Exidia repanda</i> Species of fungus

Exidia repanda is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of birch jelly. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and button-shaped. It typically grows on dead attached twigs and branches of birch and has been recorded from Europe, North America, and Japan.

<i>Exidia candida</i> Species of fungus

Exidia candida is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, whitish, and cushioned-shaped at first, becoming effused and corrugated. It typically grows on logs and fallen branches of lime and other broadleaved trees. The species occurs in both North America and Europe. A distinctive variety, Exidia candida var. cartilaginea, is bicoloured whitish and ochre to brown, grows preferentially on birch and alder, has a northerly distribution, and occurs in North America, Europe, and the Russian Far East.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kalchbrenner C (1882). "Fungi Macowaniani". Grevillea. 10 (55): 104–109.
  2. 1 2 3 Reid DA. (1975). Type studies of the larger Basidiomycetes described from South Africa. Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium. Vol. 7. p. 118.
  3. 1 2 Lloyd, C.G. (1915). "Mycological Notes 39". Mycological Writings. 4 (39): 525–540.