Corticiaceae Erythricium aurantiacum # (Marchandiomyces aurantiacus) Lichenicolous fungus Probably widespread but infrequently recorded on corticolous Phaeophyscia, Physcia and Xanthoria species. An aggressively parasitic basidiomycete, the vegative morph forming clusters of +/- spherical pale orange sclerotia or bulbils (resembling soredia in texture) on bleached, necrotic areas of the host thallus. Basidiosphores are rarely produced. Micrographs showing the cells in the bulbils below. Similar: Marchandiomyces corallinus, similar hosts, pink sclerotia. Paranectria oropensis has multi-septate spores with distinctive 'tails'

Micrographs showing the cells in the bulbils



Erythricium aurantiacum (Marchandiomyces aurantiacus)
Pamphill Green and Broadstone, Dorset. December 2015, July 2023