About Dacrymyces chrysospermus Berk. & M.A.Curtis
Dacrymyces chrysospermus Berk. & M.A.Curtis is a saprotrophic fungus that grows on dead coniferous wood. Its basidiocarps are gelatinous, bright orange, and extremely variable in shape; they are typically distinctly stalked (stoutly stipitate), with a spoon-shaped or cup-shaped spore-bearing head. Basidiocarps often push through the bark in groups, and frequently merge to form complex masses that can reach 6 cm (2+1â2 inches) across. Microscopically, the species can be distinguished from most other Dacrymyces species by its comparatively large basidiospores, which measure 18â23 by 6.5â8 Ξm and have 7 septa. The species was first formally described from specimens collected in New England, and is reported to have a worldwide distribution.
