Spores of corticioid fungus Dichostereum ...

The image shows microscopic spores of the corticioid fungus Dichostereum effuscatum on the underside of a fallen water oak tree collected a day before in Lick Creek Park near College Station, Texas, on March 17, 2023.

**Spore Characteristics**

* **Color**: The spores are round and brown with a dark-brown center.
* **Shape**: They appear to be spherical or slightly elliptical in shape.
* **Size**: The size of the spores is not clearly visible due to the image quality, but they seem to be relatively small.

**Background**

The background of the image appears to be white or light gray, which suggests that the spores were stained with a substance such as Lugol's iodine solution before being observed under a microscope. This staining technique is commonly used to visualize and study fungal structures like spores.

**Conclusion**

In summary, the image shows microscopic spores of Dichostereum effuscatum on the underside of a fallen water oak tree collected in Lick Creek Park near College Station, Texas, on March 17, 2023. The spores are round, brown with a dark-brown center, and relatively small in size. They were likely stained with Lugol's iodine solution to enhance their visibility under the microscope. – AI vision