Stereum ostrea

[ Basidiomycetes > Russulales > Stereaceae > Stereum . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

Stereum ostrea is often called the "False Turkey Tail," since it mimics Trametes versicolor. Like the "true" Turkey Tail, Stereum ostrea has a colorful, somewhat fuzzy cap that displays zones of brown and reddish brown colors. While it might be said that Stereum ostrea is more red, more of the time, the tell-tale difference between true and false Turkey Tails is found underneath the cap: Stereum ostrea lacks a pore surface, and therefore has a smooth underside.

Among the false Turkey Tails, Stereum ostrea is distinguished by its relatively large size (it regularly reaches widths of 5-7 cm) and the fact that it tends to develop individual, sliced-funnel-shaped fruitbodies, rather than laterally fused flat ones.

Stereum ostrea is inedible due to its tough, leathery texture.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on the dead wood of hardwoods; growing in dense overlapping clusters; spring, summer, fall, and winter; widely distributed in North America.

Fruiting Body: 1-7 cm across; usually shaped like a funnel that has been sliced down one side, but often fan-shaped, semicircular, or irregularly kidney-shaped; densely velvety or hairy at first, but often smoother by maturity; with concentric zones of red, orange, yellowish, brown, and buff shades (sometimes developing greenish shades in old age as a result of algae); without a stem.

Undersurface: Smooth; whitish to grayish or pale reddish brown.

Flesh: Insubstantial; tough.

Chemical Reactions: KOH red (or flashing red, then black) on all surfaces.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 5.5-7.5 x 2-3 µ; smooth; cylindric.

REFERENCES: (Blume & Nees, 1826) Fries, 1838. (Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Metzler & Metzler, 1992; Barron, 1999; Roody, 2003; McNeil, 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006.) Herb. Kuo 09300402, 10270402, 04270701.

Further Online Information:

Stereum ostrea at Tom Volk's Fungi
Stereum ostrea at Roger's Mushrooms

KOH

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2005, March). Stereum ostrea. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/stereum_ostrea.html