Stereum

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Stereum
Stereum hirsutum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Agaricomycetes Order: Russulales Family: Stereaceae Genus: Stereum

Stereum is the most representative genus of the newly-created family Stereaceae, in the Polyporales order. Until recently, the genus was classified in the Corticiaceae 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, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a Stereum are said to have a stereoid shape, which should not be confused with the word steroid.

Contents 1 Habitat 2 Characteristics 3 Species 4 References

[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 wood decay fungi that do not have tubes. They are simply small bracket-shaped 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. complicatum
• S. gausapatum
• S. hirsutum
• S. insignitum -- may be considered a synonym of S. subtomentosum
• S. ostrea -- False turkey tail. Sometimes considered a variety of S. hirsutum.
• (S. papyrinum -- Preferred name: Lopharia papyrina^[1])
• (S. purpureum -- Silver leaf fungus. Preferred name: Chondrostereum purpureum ^[1])
• S. sanguinolentum
• S. subtomentosum
• (S. taxodii -- Preferred name: Laurilia taxodii^[1])

[edit] References