Sarcodontia uda

Sarcodontia uda (Fr.) Nikol.

[Phlebia uda, Mycoacia uda]

Name: pale-yellow splash tooth (Australia); (Czech: Hrotnatečka žlutá ; Danish: citrongul vokspig ; French: Odontie humide ; Polish: Żylak kolczasty).
Etymology: Epithet = wet, moist, damp. Genus = fleshy tooth.
Fruitbody: Thin effused crust with small teeth 1-2 mm long. Color typically yellow to yellowish brown. Nakasone (1997): distinguished by basidiomata that turn purple, red or brown in KOH, resinous covered hyphal-end cells in the teeth, short, fusiform cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores. The spindle-shaped cystidia are not encrusted and the spores are not curved.
Similar species: Species are best separated microscopically. See the genus page regarding C. chrysocreas. See the genus Mycoacia page and Nakasone (1997, PDF below) for similar toothed crusts including Mycoacia aurea, M. fuscoatra, and M. nothofagi.
Ecology: White rot of dead hardwoods; rarely on conifers, such as fir (Abies).
Phenology: Summer and fall. Earlier in the south and west.
Biogeography: Widespread. Found throughout Europe and much of North America.
Chicago Region status: Rare. Apparently easily overlooked.
Specimens examined: PRL 12612, found on dead sugar maple, northern Cook County in 2015, was the first specimen identified from Chicago Region. The next two collections in 2016 were from the same spot in McHenry County. The next record in 2017 was from near the North Branch Trail.