Stereum
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 Stereum hirsutum
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Stereum is the most representative genus of the newly-created family Stereaceae, in the Polyporales order. Until recently, the genus was classified in the Coticiaceae family, of the Corticiales order. However it was given its own family as a result of the split-up of the Corticiales. Common names for species of this genus are leaf fungus or wax fungus.
[edit] Habitat
Stereum species are found to live on all kinds of deadwood or hardwood or dead leaves (they are therefore said to be saprobic). Sometimes they are also found on living leaves.
[edit] Characteristics
Stereum species are small polypores that do not have tubes, they are simply small membranes appearing on dead wood. The underside of the membrane contains spores but no ornament, i.e. gills, of any kind. Like most members in the family, Stereums lack clamp connection and have amyloid spores.
The species can be divided into 2 groups: the bleeders (those which exude a red liquid at cut surfaces, in a way similar to Lactarius species) and the non-bleeders (those that do not). Several authors even create a distinct genus for the bleeding species of Stereum: Haematostereum.
[edit] Species
There are numerous species in this genus (and family), the commonest one being by far Stereum hirsutum.
- S. basidios
- S. complicatum
- S. gausapatum
- S. hirsutum
- S. ostrea -- False turkey tail. Sometimes considered a variety of S. hirsutum.
- S. papyrinum
- S. purpurum -- silver leaf fungus. Latin synonym: Chondrostereum purpurum.
- S. sanguineum
- S. sanguinolentum
- S. subtomentosum
- S. taxodii
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