Summary: Features include 1) resupinate growth on hardwoods, 2) fruitbodies that are honey-yellow to russet, the surface appearing powdery and the margin thinning out, 3) spores measuring 6-8 x 5.5-7 microns, smooth, and colorless, 4) microscopic composition that is very densely arranged, with nearly erect, interwoven hyphae about 2 microns in diameter, 5) gloeocystidia that are flexuous [wavy] and start from the substrate, and 6) numerous chlamydospores 5-6 microns in diameter.
Microscopic: SPORES 6-8 x 5.5-7 microns, (Castellano(1)), SPORES 6 microns in diameter, smooth, colorless; fruitbody "composed of very densely arranged, suberect, interwoven hyphae about 2 microns in diameter, gloeocystidia, and chlamydospores"; GLOEOCYSTIDIA 40-150 x 5-9 microns, starting from the substrate, flexuous; imbedded chlamydospores very numerous, 5-6 microns in diameter, round, sometimes comprising nearly the whole fruitbody, (Burt)
Notes: Dichostereum effuscatum has been found in BC, WA, ID, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, PQ, CT, DC, GA, IA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, and WI, (Ginns), although Castellano(1) says that it appears restricted to eastern North America: Burt lists BC, WA, and ID specimens and perhaps these identifications are disputed.
Habitat and Range
SIMILAR SPECIES
Dichostereum boreale has spores 4-6 x 3-4 microns, and larger dichophyses, (Castellano(1)). Dichostereum pallescens lacks gloeocystidia, (Castellano(1)).
Habitat
on the underside of decaying wood and bark of hardwoods, September to November, (Burt), on Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple), Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Acer rubrum (Red Maple), Alnus incana (Speckled Alder), Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch), Betula nigra (River Birch), Carpinus sp. (hornbeam), Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory), Fraxinus nigra (Black Ash), Juglans cinerea (Butternut), Populus sp., Quercus alba (White Oak), Salix sp. (willow), Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock), Ulmus sp. (elm); branch on ground; decaying wood and bark of logs; rotten log, (Ginns)