Content
Gleophyllum fir is a woody species that grows everywhere, but is rare. It is one of the representatives of the Gleophyllaceae family. This mushroom is perennial, so it can be found in its natural environment all year round. In official sources it is listed as Gloeophyllum abietinum.
What does gleophyllum fir look like?
The fruiting body of fir gleophyllum consists of a cap. It has a semicircular or fan-shaped shape. The mushroom grows singly or in small groups, but as a result of many years of growth, individual specimens grow together and form a single outstretched sessile cap.
Fir gleophyllum is attached to the substrate with its wide side. Its size is small, it reaches 2-8 cm in length and 0.3-1 cm in width at the base. The edge of the cap is thin and sharp. The color of the fruiting body changes depending on the stage of development.In young specimens it is amber-beige or brown, and then becomes brown-black. The edge of the cap is initially lighter than the main tone, but over time it merges with the rest of the surface.
The upper side of the fruiting body of young fir gleophyllums is velvety to the touch. But as it grows, the surface becomes bare and small grooves appear on it.
At the break you can see fibrous pulp of a reddish-brown hue. Its thickness is 0.1-0.3 mm. Closer to the surface of the cap it is loose, and at the edge it is dense.
On the reverse side of the fruiting body there are sparse wavy plates with bridges. Initially they have a whitish tint, and over time they become brown with a specific coating. The spores of fir gleophyllum are ellipsoidal or cylindrical. Their surface is smooth. Initially they are colorless, but when ripe they acquire a light brown tint. Their size is 9-13*3-4 microns.
Gleophyllum fir promotes the development of brown rot
Where and how does it grow
This species grows in the subtropics and temperate zone. The fungus prefers to settle on dead wood and half-rotten stumps of coniferous trees: fir, spruce, pine, cypress and juniper. Sometimes fir gleophyllum is found on deciduous trees, in particular on birch, oak, poplar, and beech.
In Russia, the fungus is distributed throughout the entire territory, but is more often found in the European part, Siberia and the Far East.
Gleophyllum fir also grows:
- in Europe;
- in Asia;
- in the Caucasus;
- in North Africa;
- in New Zealand;
- in North America.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
This species is considered inedible. It is strictly prohibited to eat it in fresh or processed form.
Doubles and their differences
Judging by its external features, this species can be confused with its other close relative, the fence gleophyllum, but the latter has a lighter color. Its other names:
- Agaricus sepiarius;
- Merulius sepiarius;
- Lenzites sepiarius.
The shape of the fruiting body of the twin is kidney-shaped or semicircular. The size of the cap reaches 12 cm in length and 8 cm in width. The mushroom belongs to the inedible category.
The surface of young specimens is velvety, and then becomes coarsely hairy. Concentric textured zones are clearly visible on it. The color from the edge has a yellow-orange tint, and then turns into a brown tone and becomes black towards the center.
The period of active growth of gleophyllum zaborum lasts from summer to late autumn, but in countries with temperate climates the mushroom grows all year round. This species lives on stumps, dead wood and fallen trees of coniferous trees, less often deciduous ones. Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. The official name of the species is Gloeophyllum sepiarium.
Gleophyllum fenceum is considered an annual tree mushroom, but cases of two-year growth of the fruiting body have also been noted
Conclusion
Fir gleophyllum, due to its inedibility, does not arouse interest among lovers of quiet hunting. But mycologists are actively studying its properties. Therefore, research in this area is still ongoing.
