Stereum

Stereum is type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales 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 include 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). Stereum contains 27 species that have a widespread distribution.^[1]

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.

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 that exude a red liquid at cut surfaces, similarly 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.

Species

There are numerous species in this genus (and family), the commonest one being by far Stereum hirsutum.

• Stereum complicatum
• Stereum gausapatum
• Stereum hirsutum
• Stereum insignitum -- may be considered a synonym of Stereum subtomentosum
• Stereum ostrea -- False turkey tail. Sometimes considered a variety of *Stereum hirsutum.
• Stereum papyrinum -- Preferred name: Lopharia papyrina^[2]
• Stereum purpureum -- Silver leaf fungus. Preferred name: Chondrostereum purpureum ^[2]
• Stereum sanguinolentum
• Stereum subtomentosum
• Stereum taxodii -- Preferred name: Laurilia taxodii^[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stereum.

External links

• Stereum at Index Fungorum