Exidia purpureocinerea

Exidia purpureocinerea is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are gelatinous, densely covered in small spines, purple-grey, and cushioned-shaped at first, becoming effused. The species occurs in southern Africa on dead wood.

Exidia purpureocinerea
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Auriculariales
Family: Auriculariaceae
Genus: Exidia
Species:
E. purpureocinerea
Binomial name
Exidia purpureocinerea
MacOwan (1882)

Taxonomy

The species was originally described from Boschberg (in the Sneeuberge) in 1882 by Yorkshire-born, South African botanist and mycologist Peter MacOwan.[1]

Description

Exidia purpureocinerea forms purple-grey, gelatinous fruit bodies that are cushion-shaped at first, later coalescing to become irregularly effused. The surface is densely covered in small spines. The spore print is white.[1][2]

Microscopic characters

The microscopic characters are typical of the genus Exidia. The basidia are ellipsoid, septate, 14 to 18 by 10.5 to 12 μm. The spores are weakly allantoid (sausage-shaped), 14 to 18 by 4.5 to 5.5 μm.[2]

Similar species

The original description notes that Exidia purpureocinerea is similar to E. glandulosa, but differs in its colour and denser smaller papillae (spines).[1][3] The densely spiny, coalescing fruit bodies are typical of the genus Tremellochaete and the South African species resembles the New Zealand species Tremellochaete novozealandica.

Habitat and distribution

Exidia purpureocinerea is a wood-rotting species. It is currently only known from South Africa.[2][3]

References
  1. Kalchbrenner C (1882). "Fungi Macowaniani". Grevillea. 10 (55): 104–109.
  2. Reid DA. (1975). Type studies of the larger Basidiomycetes described from South Africa. Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium. Vol. 7. p. 118.
  3. Lloyd, C.G. (1915). "Mycological Notes 39". Mycological Writings. 4 (39): 525–540.
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