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 Byssomerulius corium
SynonymsMeruliopsis corium
Merulius corium
Merulius confluens
Thelephora corium
Merulius pallens
BiostatusPresent in region - Indigenous. Non endemic
Article: Cunningham, G.H. (1963). The Thelephoraceae of Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bulletin 145: 359 p. Wellington:.
Description: Hymenophore pileate, annual, coriaceous. Pilei effused-reflexed, sometimes imbricate or
scutellate, often resupinate, on lateral branches extending to 20 cm, 0.5-1 cm radius, on
vertical branches narrowly effused-reflexed, or conchate, 1-3 x 0.5-1 cm; pileus surface white
or cream, radially sulcate and sometimes zoned with one or two light brown bands, finely
tomentose; margin inturned, acute, lobed, concolorous; hymenial surface cream, pallid flesh-pink,
or orange, shining, finely porose-reticulate with pores 1-4 per mm; often with large,
plane, even areas or shallowly punctate, fertile to the edge, when old sometimes creviced.
Context white or cream, 0.2-0.5 mm thick, of somewhat loosely intertwined hyphae;
generative hyphae to 6 it diameter, walls 0.5-2 µm thick, hyaline, without clamp connections,
sometimes crystal encrusted. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, subhymenium to 100 µm, a
close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, or subcylindrical, 16-24 x 4-6
µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 10-18 x
4-5 µm. Spores elliptical, 6-7.5 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
Habitat: HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Distribution: DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
Notes: Merulius corium maybe recognised by the effused-reflexed pilei with white finely tomentose
surface, flesh-pink glistening hymenial surface, elliptical spores, and absence of clamp
connections. Resupinate forms are common and not infrequently the surface is almost even or
delicately punctate, when the species might be mistaken for a Stereum. In a previous paper
(1950) I recognised a second species, M. confluens Schw., but now doubt if both can be
maintained on any constant morphological feature. Examination of the types in Kew
herbarium has shown that Polyporus eriophorus Berk. & Br., ex "Q., Brisbane, F. M. Bailey,
No. 419" and Merulius pelliculosus Cke. ex "Vic., Mrs Martin, No. 762" are also synonyms.
Specimens of M. aurantius Lloyd from Tasmania, sent by the late L. Rodway to J. B. Cleland
also proved to be of this species.
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