Peniophora halimi

An uncommon fungus occurring on a slender decaying stem of Salsola on the ground, with completely resupinate basidiomata initiating as small pustules that coalesce with development, pinkish with purplish reflections, and unlike its congeners (which have ellipsoidal to cylindrical spores), presenting ovoid spores.

Subhymenial hyphae difficult to dissociate, cylindrical, hyaline or with faint brown pigment inside, 2.5 to 4.5 µm wide, septate with clamp connections.

Lamprocystidia 35 to 60 µm long, 9 to 14 µm wide, thick-walled, with abundant apical encrustations of calcium oxalate crystals.

Gloeocystidia present and scattered, cylindrical to fusiform, 50 to 80 µm long, 8 to 12 µm wide, with oily/refractive contents inside.

Basidia cylindrical to subclavate, 30 to 40 µm long, 5 to 7 µm wide, clamped at the base, 4-spored.

Spores ovoid to short ellipsoidal, smooth, hyaline, thin- to slightly thick-walled, 6 to 8 µm long, 4.5 to 5.5 µm wide, with an inconspicuous apiculus at one pole, inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Herbarium material available: JTP2701/25.