Serpula himantioides

On decaying coniferous wood on the ground, with completely resupinate fructifications forming irregular patches up to 5 cm across, ochre to brownish, with a labyrinthine (merulioid) hymenium and a whitish growing margin.

Hyphal system monomitic, with hyaline, thin-walled subhymenial hyphae 5 to 8 µm wide, and basal hyphae arranged parallel, of similar width but containing brown intracellular pigment; all septate and clamped.

Cystidia and other sterile hymenial elements absent.

Basidia clavate, 30 to 40 µm long, 6.5 to 8 µm wide, with sterigmata up to 7 µm, basal clamp connections and four-spored.

Spores ellipsoidal, smooth, pale brown under the microscope, measuring 9 to 11 µm long and 5 to 6 µm wide according to literature, with faint oil droplets inside, and dextrinoid in Melzer's reagent.

Herbarium material available: JTP1957/23.