Summary: Gloeophyllum carbonarium is "usually easy to recognize by the umber brown, soft and pliable fruitbody with relatively large hexagonal pores and its preference for charred wood" (Gilbertson). The description is derived from Gilbertson(1).
Microscopic: spores 7-9 x 2-3 microns, cylindric to suballantoid [somewhat curved], smooth, inamyloid, colorless; basidia 4-spored, 30-38 x 5-6.5 microns, narrowly clavate, with basal clamp connection; cystidia none; hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae 2-4 microns wide, with clamp connections, skeletal hyphae predominant, 2-4 microns wide, "yellowish to rusty brown, thick-walled, unbranched to occasionally dichotomously branched"
Notes: Gloeophyllum carbonarium has been found in BC, WA, OR, ID, ON, AZ, CA, FL, GA, MI, MT, NM, NY, SC, TN, and Nepal, (Gilbertson).
Habitat and Range
SIMILAR SPECIES
A few Phellinus spp. have similar macroscopic features, but the curved spores, clamp connections, and lack of setae distinguish G. carbonarium (Ginns(28))
Habitat
on charred coniferous wood, causes a brown cubical rot