Allophlebia ludoviciana

A tropical species widespread throughout Central America and the Caribbean, formerly known as Phlebia ludoviciana and recently transferred to Allophlebia (a genus currently comprising only A. ludoviciana and A. formosana), with resupinate basidiomata, golden-yellow to orange, smooth to granulose surface, and waxy consistency.

Hyphal system monomitic; subicular hyphae thick-walled, very difficult to dissociate, 4 to 6 µm wide, encrusted with crystals, septate with clamp connections.

Two types of cystidia present: abundant metuloids, cylindrical to pyriform, very thick-walled, 35 to 70 µm long, 7 to 9 µm wide, densely encrusted with hyaline crystals, deeply embedded in the hymenium; and scattered leptocystidia, with an elongated neck, thin-walled, 40 to 70 µm long, 5 to 7 µm wide at the base, projecting considerably beyond the basidia.

Basidia cylindrical-clavate, 35 to 45 µm long, 7 to 9 µm wide, clamped at the base, 4-spored.

Spores ellipsoidal, smooth, hyaline, thin-walled, with a pointed apicular end, 4.5 to 6 µm long, 2 to 2.8 µm wide, containing guttules of varying sizes, inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Closely resembles the European Phlebia subochracea, which has longer and narrower spores and lacks metuloids.