Content
Stereum coarse-haired is an inedible representative of the Stereum family. Prefers to grow on stumps, dry wood, and living damaged trunks. The variety is distributed throughout Russia and bears fruit throughout the warm season. The mushroom is considered medicinal and is used in folk medicine.
Where does Stereum colifolia grow?
The variety grows on dead wood, stumps of deciduous and coniferous trees. Stereum coarsely grows on rotten wood as a saprotroph, thereby playing the role of a forest orderly, and on living damaged trees as a parasite, causing white blight. Damaged trunks begin to quickly deteriorate and die. The species grows in large groups, forming multi-tiered families in the form of wavy ribbons.
What does Stereum coarse hair look like?
The species is distributed throughout Russia; it can be identified by its small fan-shaped fruiting body with outstretched, bent edges. The surface is hairy, pubescent, yellow-brown in color. After rain it becomes covered with algae and acquires a slimy greenish tint.The underside is smooth and a soft canary color, changing color to dark orange or brown with age. After frosts, in early spring, the surface becomes grayish-brown with light wavy edges. The mushroom is attached to the wood along its entire side, forming long multi-tiered rows.
The species reproduces by colorless cylindrical spores, which are located in white spore powder.
Is it possible to eat Stereum colifolia?
Stereum coarse-haired is an inedible species, as it has hard, corky pulp. There is no taste or smell. The mushroom begins to bear fruit from June to December; in regions with warm winters it can grow all year round.
Similar species
Stereum coarse-haired, like any variety, has doubles. These include:
- Felt. The variety is distinguished by its large size, velvety surface and red-brown color. The fruiting body is attached to the substrate with a small part of the side. The underside is matte, slightly wrinkled, gray-brown in color. The variety is inedible, as it has hard, corky pulp that is odorless and tasteless. Distributed in the northern temperate zone, it bears fruit throughout the warm period.
- Sulfur-yellow tinder fungus, conditionally edible mushroom. Only young specimens are used in cooking, as the pulp has a pleasant sour taste. The species grows on living wood low above the ground. It can be recognized by its fan-shaped pseudo-cap measuring from 10 to 40 cm. The surface has an orange-yellow color with a slight pink tint. The snow-white flesh of young specimens is soft and juicy, has a sour taste and a delicate lemon aroma.
- Trihaptum bipolar, inedible mushroom. The small fruiting body is located on dead wood in multi-tiered groups. The pseudocap is semicircular, irregularly fan-shaped. The surface is felty and becomes smooth with age. The color is light gray, brown or golden. Distributed throughout Russia. It begins to bear fruit from June to September.
Application
Stereum coliform has medicinal properties. The fruit body has antitumor and antibacterial properties, so it is widely used in folk medicine. Decoctions and infusions stop the growth of cancer cells, fight malaria, and help with sarcoma and Ehrlich carcinoma. Forest gifts of this species can only be used strictly according to the rules, otherwise there is a high risk of poisoning.
Conclusion
Stereum coarse-haired is an inedible variety of the Stereum family. The species grows on dry and damaged wood, in deciduous and coniferous forests. Due to its medicinal properties, it is widely used in folk medicine.
