Summary:
{See also Dacrymyces Table.} Dacrymyces chrysocomus is characterized by small cup-shaped fruiting bodies, large spores with thickened walls and thick septa, and the presence of a cortex, (McNabb 1973). It is recognized by small cup-shaped fruitbodies, large thick-walled spores, the palisade covering of sterile surfaces and clamp connections (Reid).

Microscopic:
spores 24-28(32) x 7.5-10(11) microns, typically broadly and bluntly fusiform [spindle-shaped] but occasionally nearly round to broadly elliptic (then 14-20 x 10-16 microns), spores tinted, apiculate, becoming thick-walled with thick septa, transversely 7-septate with 1-3(5) longitudinal septa; protobasidia 58-86 x 5.5-7.5 microns, cylindric to cylindric-subclavate, with basal clamp connections, becoming bifurcate; hymenium "confined to interior of cup, composed of basidia and occasionally simple, cylindrical dikaryophyses"; internal hyphae "thin-walled, smooth or roughened, clamp connections present", (McNabb), spores 17-23.5 x 6.5-8.5 microns, almost cylindric, "slightly bent or flattened on one side, at first without septa or with unclear septa, then up to 8-cellular, pale yellow"; basidia 50-70 x 4-5 microns, clavate; hyphae thin-walled, smooth, with clamp connections; external hairs 20-50 x 4-8 microns, clavate, thick-walled cortical, (Raitviir), spores 16.0-24.0 x 7.75-8.75 microns, varying from elliptic to slightly allantoid, becoming transversely 3-7(8)-septate and at maturity developing also a number of longitudinal septa and so appearing strikingly muriform; sterile surfaces are covered with a palisade of hyphal endings, which are mostly simple but very occasionally forked near apex, these palisade elements, 22-45 microns long, "have thick glassy walls and are either subcylindric or clavate with the apex 4.75-6 microns wide", (Reid)

Notes:
D. chrysocomus is found in BC, WA, and GA, (Ginns), and France, Finland, Sweden, and United Kingdom, (McNabb). It has been recorded from Estonia, Germany, Russia, and Spain, (Reid).

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Guepiniopsis chrysocoma (Bull. ex Fr.) Brasf.