Number 06 of my Mushroom Photography hunt, & today (14th & 15th January) I found the common tree bracket Hairy Curtain Crust, scientifically known as the Stereum Hirsutum. Although common this fungi has documented 26 different forms & varieties of this Saprobic species between 1800 - 2009. The most interesting thing I learnt today is fungi webs, which I have seen something similar in previous mushrooms I have documented, stringent filaments stretching between fruiting bodies of saprotrophics such as the Mycena Filopes (Post #07) or Collybias such as the Rhodocollybia Butyracae (post #05). What is responsible is Larvae, web-spinning fine articulate filaments covering large areas of mass relatively speaking. Relative to hard fungi & the Stereum Hirsutum today, I found two lots distributed 10cm apart, each measuring 7.5cm across, by 5cm in width, with a 2cm ground clearance. There purpose is to fend off insects such as invertebrates who like to feast on this fungus. These filaments consist of clear oxalic fluid in the form of droplets distributed throughout the web, created by the larvae which catch prey & consume, whilst protecting the mushroom. These can also be suspended vertically to catch flying prey such as mushrooms containing a stipe such as the two mentioned above. What is incredible, it fundamentally imitates a spiders web or a sheet weaver web more specifically. The silk forms sticky gum-footed lines which can stretch to the ground or to an above surface. When insects brush against any tendril, the line vibrates & sends a notification to the spider, in relation to fungi, seen under hard-fungi habitats like under bark, rotting wood, caves, & worm holes in pasture. Please see photography figure 01 below for a photographic example.
Fruiting Body: Reflexed-expanded cap, with overlap; Resupinate (rare. see etymology). Imbricated but can fluctuate in saturation, bracket shaped, villous surface of pileus specially toward substratum. Most prominent is the sineous & wave-like structure to the crust which displays fine short white hairs on crust in young age. Colours vary specially in the concentric zones. Pale yellow in immaturity or orange before turning very vibrant, darkening in maturity to an eventual brown, with a greyish-pale margin of the cap. The lower spore bearing surface on the substratum without pores.
Spores: Ellipsoidal, smooth, 6-7.5 x 3-3.5µm; amyloid. Spore print hard to determine, but white.
Hymenium: In lower section of pileus; resting upon the substratum. Even though gibbous can range from a relfection of the top, from a yellow, orange. Does not reflect brown however more so a ochre-grey or hazel.
Stipe: Absent / N.A
Skirt: Absent / N.A
Flesh: Brown/yellow; thin but tough/coriaceous; however elastic. 1-2mm thick.
Height/Size: Brackets: 2-8cm diameter. Height is reflective of flesh as Stipe non-existent. 1-2mm flesh.
Edible: Yes. Odour/Taste - None distinguishable. Coriaceous flesh & little of gives little culinary value.
Surface: Villous; specially in substratum.
Microscopy: Hyaline spores.
Habitat: Saprobic: Broadleaved trees; commonly on Oak & Beech. The specimens I analysed were on a fallen Silver Birch. Seen on stumps, logs, & inside rotting bark. Rarely seen on coniferous trees.
Distribution: Grows in tears or reflexed brackets or crusts. Gregariously between gaps particularly on peeled bark of the examples photographed (see figures).
Season: All year round; spreads spores throughout Autumn.
Confusion Species: Stereum Subtomentosum - Upper surface of pileus is zoned however colour differs to Hirsutum in that grey-orange &/or grey-white. No stem however dipicts a much narrower attachment region in connection to the wood surface from the substratum.
Etymology: Greek meaning "Stereos": firm, sturdy, rigid. In reference to hard-fungi as mentioned in the introduction. Hard to tear in sampling of flesh for example. "Hirsutum" comes from Latin: Hairy. This fungus displays fine short white hairs particularly in young age around the crust; before developing a smooth crust in maturity; colour depicts, see fruiting body above. The common name reflects the rippled wave-like edges which sort of look like curtains, however it is more common to see these growing in tears or reflexed brackets or crusts (figure 02) particualrly on dead standing wood. You can see this on resupinate crusts too but not as common. These are often found on ends/vertical faces of chopped timber.
Other Notes: Sometimes paratised by Jelly Fungi.
Pictures taken: 14th&15th/01/2022
Reference List:
Comments