Elmerina caryae is a crustose lichenized fungus that grows on deciduous trees, particularly hickories. In East and Central Texas, it has been found on shagbark hickory and bitternut hickory, forming small to medium-sized patches with a grayish-brown thallus and white to cream-colored apothecia. The fungus is relatively rare in the region, but can be locally common in areas with suitable host trees.
Grey resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae) turning dark-brown on a fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 7, 2020 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Grey resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae) in a small cavity on a fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 7, 2020 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Grey resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae) with translucent worms on a fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 7, 2020 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Close-up of grey resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae) on a fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 7, 2020 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Grey resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae) on a fallen oak on Winters Bayou Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Cleveland, Texas, February 1, 2020 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Cleveland, TX 77328, USA
Close-up of resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae) on a fallen oak on Winters Bayou Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Cleveland, Texas, February 1, 2020 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Cleveland, TX 77328, USA
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae)(?) on a rotting oak log on Four Notch Loop Trail of Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville. Texas, February 22, 2020 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae (Aporpium caryae)(?) under a log in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, April 13, 2020 742 Francis Dr, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on an oak log in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, February 27, 2021 311 E Brookside Dr, Bryan, TX 77801, USA
Close-up of resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on an oak log in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, February 27, 2021 311 E Brookside Dr, Bryan, TX 77801, USA
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae together with an old brown polypore on an oak log in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, February 27, 2021 311 E Brookside Dr, Bryan, TX 77801, USA
Old brown polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on an oak log in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, February 27, 2021 311 E Brookside Dr, Bryan, TX 77801, USA
Old and freshly grown resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on an oak log in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, February 27, 2021 311 E Brookside Dr, Bryan, TX 77801, USA
Close-up of soft resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae(?) on a heavily decomposed hardwood log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, January 29, 2022 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Soft resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae(?) on a heavily decomposed hardwood log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, January 29, 2022 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Scratched pore surface of soft resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae(?) on a heavily decomposed hardwood log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, January 29, 2022 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Details of soft resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae(?) on a heavily decomposed hardwood log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, January 29, 2022 Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Spores of soft white-grey resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae(?) on heavily decomposed hardwood, collected from Caney Creek section of Sam Houston National Forest 1/29/2022. Texas, January 30, 2022 Spore size 6.2 - 8.39 × 3.3 - 4.8 µm, length to width ratio Q = 1.6 - 2.1.
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on almost dry wax-leaf privet, on a fallen trunk, very light weight and rotten, in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, March 16, 2022 359, East Brookside Drive, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, 77801, United States
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae with lichens on a fallen trunk of Japanese (wax-leaf) privet in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, March 16, 2022 East Brookside Drive, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, 77801, United States
Close-up of resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on a fallen trunk of wax-leaf privet in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, March 16, 2022 East Brookside Drive, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, 77801, United States
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae with older parts and scratches turning brown in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, March 16, 2022 East Brookside Drive, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, 77801, United States
Cross section of resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on a fallen trunk of wax-leaf privet in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, March 16, 2022 359, East Brookside Drive, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, 77801, United States
Spores of resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae collected in Hensel Park a day before. College Station, Texas, March 17, 2022
Resupinate porous mushroom Elmerina caryae(?) on a hardwood log in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 20, 2023 Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Spores of resupinate porous mushroom Elmerina caryae collected a day before in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 21, 2023
Resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae on underside of a fallen oak(?) branch on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, January 6, 2024 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Close-up of resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae with a scratch on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, January 6, 2024 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Spores of resupinate polypore mushroom Elmerina caryae from a fallen oak branch, collected in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, January 6, 2024 Spore size 5 - 5.7 × 2.2 - 2.6 µm, length to width ratio Q = 1.9 - 2.35.
AI-generated summary of observations
The fungus Elmerina caryae was observed in East and Central Texas over several years. The majority of sightings were on fallen oaks or rotting oak logs in various parks and forests, including Lick Creek Park, Sam Houston National Forest, and Hensel Park. The mushroom was typically grey and resupinate, often turning dark brown with age. Some observations noted the presence of translucent worms or lichens on the fungus. In 2022, the fungus was also found on a fallen wax-leaf privet trunk. Spore samples were collected on several occasions. The observations suggest that Elmerina caryae is common in the region and can be found on various types of decaying wood, particularly oak. The sightings span from January to April, indicating a possible winter to early spring growth period for the fungus.