Stereum genus.
Fungi > Division Basidiomycota > Class Agaricomycetes > Order Russulales > Family Stereaceae.
There are 27 species of Stereum including S. hirsutum which is common in S.E. Queensland.
Stereum species are crust fungi but unlike most crusts they have no tubes or pores.
Spores are produced in the hymenium which consists of basidia cells among hyphae.
With flat fruit bodies the hymenium is on the outer surface.
With shelved fruitbodies it is on the lower surface of the caps.
Stereum hirsutum.
It is a crust fungus that usually forms cap-like structures at the edges.
It occurs in large numbers on dead wood.
Individual fruit bodies, 1 to 2 mm thick, are often only 2-3 cm across but can be larger.
If here are caps at the edges they may form tiers or fuse laterally to form long shelves.
The upper surface of caps have concentric zones of yellow, orange and brown.
They are covered in a dense layer of white, brown or grey hairs.
The colours are darker near the area of attachment to the crust.
The cap margin is a paler white or yellow and may be wavy.
Colours may fade to grey or be green from algal growth.
The smooth spore bearing surface can be pale yellow, brown or grey.
The spore print is white.
Trametes versicolor has a similar upper surface but has tubes and pores underneath.
J.F.
