Grafton 12/13/08

The first impression of these mushrooms was that they looked like deer shit on the side of a rotten maple stump.  The largest (half way down) was about 5/8" long.  They were mature and dry.  Some had a split near the top from which spouted spores when the sides were pressed together.

A closer look.  The three at top left look like they have stems but most look like they are glued to the wood.  In the split of the largest you can see the color of the spores which looked light brown to me.

Closer yet.  The surface looked shinny but rough.

Showing the empty space where one ball was removed, on the right.  Light from a hallogen lamp gives unnatural color.

Spore print light brown, spores were spherical and measured 3.5 to 5 microns.  The spores look like they have double walls.  It appears as if there are spikes on the surface.

Darvin DeShazer thinks this might be Lycogala epidendrum.  Will check that stump next year to see if I can catch what they look like when they are young.