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A representative of the Corticiaceae family, willow cytidia (Stereum salicinum, Terana salicina, Lomatia salicina) is a tree-dwelling mushroom. It parasitizes on the branches of old or weakened trees. It has no nutritional value; the mushroom is inedible.
Where does willow cytidia grow?
A perennial microscopic fungus can only exist in symbiosis with the wood of willow, poplar, and less often with other deciduous trees. The main distribution is on old weakened dying branches; it also grows on new dead wood.
Cytidia willow is widespread in warm and temperate climates. The main accumulation is in the forests of the Central regions, Siberia, and the Urals. In the Krasnodar Territory it is found in mountainous regions and Black Sea coastal forests; in warm climates it bears fruit throughout the year.In temperate climates, young fruiting bodies appear in the spring and growth continues until late autumn. With high air humidity during the season, the fungus covers large areas of the branches and trunk on which it parasitizes.
In winter, the cytidia is dormant, old mushrooms do not die for about 3-5 seasons, and continue to spread along with young specimens. In dry weather, dying fruit bodies lose moisture, become hard, dry out significantly, and take on the color of wood. You can see them only with a detailed examination of the branch section.
What does willow cytidia look like?
Cytidia willow has a simple macroscopic structure of the fruiting body with the following characteristics:
- irregular circle shape, transverse length - 3-10 mm, occurs in the form of a thin, smooth continuous film covering the wood surface;
- color – bright red or burgundy with a purple tint;
- at low humidity, perennial specimens have a leathery, wrinkled surface; during prolonged rains, they have a jelly-like consistency with an oily surface. Dry mushrooms are hard, horn-shaped, and do not lose color;
- arrangement - prostrate, sometimes with raised edges that are easily separated from the surface.
They begin to grow singly, eventually forming small groups in different places on the tree bark. As they grow, the groups unite into a continuous line, reaching up to 10-15 cm.
Is it possible to eat willow cytidia?
In biological reference books, willow cytidia is included in the group of inedible species. No toxicity information available. But the thin fruit body, which is initially hard when dry and jelly-like during rainfall, is unlikely to arouse gastronomic interest.
Similar species
Radial phlebia is similar in appearance, method of development and places of growth to willow cytidia. It parasitizes dead wood and old deadwood.
A similar species is distinguished by a larger size of the fruiting body and forms wide or long conglomerates. The color is closer to orange; in dry weather, a dark purple spot begins to increase from the central part and spread to the edges. When frozen, it may become completely black or colorless. The shape is round with jagged, raised edges. The surface is lumpy. Mushrooms with a one-year growing season, inedible.
Application
The fruit bodies are inedible and are not used in any form for processing. They also have not found application in folk medicine. In an ecological system, like any biological species, a mushroom has a specific function. From symbiosis with dying wood it receives the necessary microelements for development, in turn inhibiting the process of rotting and decomposition of dead wood.
Conclusion
The saprotroph Cytidia willow parasitizes on dry branches of deciduous trees, mainly willow and poplar. Forms long continuous conglomerates in the form of a red film. The mushroom is inedible; there is no information about toxic compounds in its chemical composition.
