Stemonitis fusca

A fairly common species found on decaying wood or bark on the ground, with stalked sporocarps of considerable size, 0.6 to 2 cm in total height, with a cylindrical brown sporotheca and a long, cylindrical black stipe expanded at the base, occupying between one-third and one-half of total sporocarp height.

Columella cylindrical, dark brown to black, tapering progressively towards the apex.

Capillitium light brown, arising from thick branches perpendicular to the columella, branching and anastomosing to form a surface net of angular meshes up to 20 µm in diameter, with spinose free ends.

Spores globose, purplish-brown under the microscope, 8 to 10 µm in diameter, ornamented with spines aligned in ridges and forming a small-meshed reticulum.

Herbarium material available: JTP2576/25.