''Calocera pallidospathulata'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

fungus A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Dacrymycetaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of pale stagshorn.

Basidiocarps In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma () is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do no ...

(fruit bodies) are gelatinous, pale yellow, and spathulate (widening towards the apex). It typically grows on logs and dead wood of both broadleaved trees and conifers. It is mainly found in Great Britain, but has also been recorded from continental Europe.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described from Yorkshire, England in 1974 by British

mycologist Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their taxonomy, genetics, biochemical properties, and use by humans. Fungi can be a source of tinder, food, traditional medicine, as well as entheogens, poison, and ...

Derek Reid Derek Agutter Reid (2 September 1927 – 18 January 2006) was an English mycologist. Background and education Reid was born in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, the son of a picture-framer. He was educated at Cedars School and the University o ...

Description

''Calocera pallidospathulata'' forms pale yellowish, gelatinous fruit bodies up to 1 cm tall, comprising a whitish or pallid stalk and a pale yellowish, fertile head that is typically thin, flattened, and spathulate (widening towards the apex). The fruit bodies typically grow gregariously, but do not coalesce.

Microscopic characters

Hyphae A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one o ...

lack

clamp connections A clamp connection is a hook-like structure formed by growing hyphal cells of certain fungi. It is a characteristic feature of basidiomycete fungi. It is created to ensure that each cell, or segment of hypha separated by septa (cross walls), recei ...

. The

basidia A basidium (: basidia) is a microscopic spore-producing structure found on the hymenophore of reproductive bodies of basidiomycete fungi. The presence of basidia is one of the main characteristic features of the group. These bodies are also ...

are two-spored and typical of the Dacrymycetaceae. The

spores In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plant ...

are weakly allantoid (sausage-shaped), 10 to 13 by 3.5 to 4

μm The micrometre (Commonwealth English as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American English), also commonly known by the non-SI term micron, is a unit of length in the International System ...

, thin-walled, becoming tardily 1 to 3-septate.

Habitat and distribution

''Calocera pallidospathulata'' is a wood-rotting species, typically found on logs and dead wood of both broadleaved trees and conifers. It was originally described from England and is locally common in Great Britain, but has also been recorded from Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. Since its initial discovery in Yorkshire, ''Calocera pallidospathulata'' has spread rapidly through much of England and into Wales and Scotland. Since the species is conspicuous, it seems probable that it is an invasive introduction from another continent, possibly North America.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10440089 Dacrymycetes Fungi of Europe Fungi described in 1974 Taxa named by Derek Reid Fungus species