''Stereum'' is the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus (''genus typica'') is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearin ...

of the

Stereaceae The Stereaceae are a family of corticioid fungi in the Russulales order. Species in the family have a widespread distribution, are lignicolous or terrestrial (in leaf litter), and typically saprobic. According to the ''Dictionary of the Fungi'' ...

family of

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

, in the

Russulales The Russulales are an order of the Agaricomycetes, (which include the agaric genera '' Russula'' and ''Lactarius'' and their polyporoid and corticioid relatives). According to the ''Dictionary of the Fungi'' (10th edition, 2008), the order con ...

order.

Common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...

s for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a stereoid shape. ''Stereum'' contains 27 species that have a widespread distribution.

Description

''Stereum'' species are wood decay fungi. Their simple, shelving fruiting bodies have a smooth

hymenium The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in oth ...

, lacking gills or tubes. Like most members or the family Stereaceae, ''Stereum'' fruiting bodies lack

clamp connection A clamp connection is a hook-like structure formed by growing hyphal cells of certain fungi. It is a characteristic feature of basidiomycete fungi. It is created to ensure that each cell, or segment of hypha separated by septa (cross walls), rece ...

s and produce

amyloid Amyloids are aggregates of proteins characterised by a fibrillar morphology of typically 7–13 nm in diameter, a β-sheet secondary structure (known as cross-β) and ability to be stained by particular dyes, such as Congo red. In the human ...

basidiospore A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by basidiomycete fungi, a grouping that includes mushrooms, shelf fungi, rusts, and smuts. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromos ...

Taxonomy

It is the

of the

family. Until recently, the genus was classified in the

Corticiaceae The Corticiaceae are a family of fungi in the order Corticiales. The family formerly included almost all the corticioid (patch- or crust-forming) fungi, whether they were related or not, and as such was highly artificial. In its current sense, ...

family, of the Corticiales order. However, it was given its own family as a result of the split-up of the Corticiales. The species can be divided into two groups: the bleeders (those that exude a red liquid from cut surfaces, similarly to ''

Lactarius ''Lactarius'' is a genus of mushroom-producing, ectomycorrhizal fungi, containing several Edible mushroom, edible species. The species of the genus, common name, commonly known as milk-caps, are characterized by the milky fluid ("latex") they ex ...

'' species) and the non-bleeders (those that do not). In 1959, Zdenek Pouzar created a distinct genus, '' Haematostereum'', for the bleeding species of ''Stereum'', including '' H. gausapatum'', '' H. rugosum'', and '' H. sanguinolentum''. Modern authors do not consider ''Haematostereum'' to be a distinct genus, so it is currently treated as a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

of ''Stereum''.

Species

There are numerous species in this genus, the most common one being ''

Stereum hirsutum ''Stereum hirsutum'', commonly known as the false turkey tail, hairy stereum, or hairy curtain crust, is a species of fungus and a plant pathogen that infects coniferous and deciduous trees. Description The fuzzy orangish fruiting bodies typical ...

''. The following species are recognised in the genus ''Stereum'': *''

Stereum acanthophysatum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Rehill & B.K. Bakshi (1966) *''

Stereum adnatum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1925) *''

Stereum albostipitatum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1913) *''

Stereum alternum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1924) *''

Stereum aotearoa ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' G. Cunn. (1956) *''

Stereum aratum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Pat. (1907) *''

Stereum armeniacum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Boidin & Gilles (1989) *''

Stereum auriscalpium ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1920) *'' Stereum aurora'' Killerm. (1943) *'' Stereum avellanaceum'' Lloyd (1936) *'' Stereum azonum'' Velen. (1922) *'' Stereum beigehymenium'' Teixeira (1945) *'' Stereum bellum'' (Kunze) Sacc. (1888) *''

Stereum bertolonii ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Sacc. (1895) *'' Stereum bombycinum'' Lloyd (1925) *'' Stereum boninense'' Yasuda (1919) *'' Stereum braunii'' (Henn.) Beeli (1926) *'' Stereum campaniforme'' Pat. (1908) *'' Stereum carthusianum'' E.H.L. Krause (1928) *'' Stereum cinericium'' Lloyd (1922) *'' Stereum coalescens'' Lloyd (1925) *'' Stereum complicatum'' (Fr.) Fr. (1838) *''

Stereum conchoides ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1925) *''

Stereum conicum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Burt (1920) *''

Stereum consobrinum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' (P. Karst.) Sacc. & Trotter (1912) *'' Stereum contrastum'' Lloyd (1924) *''

Stereum corruge ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1919) *'' Stereum crispulum'' Lloyd (1936) *'' Stereum cupulatum'' Pat. (1903) *'' Stereum dimiticum'' Rehill & B.K. Bakshi (1966) *'' Stereum durbanense'' Van der Byl (1922) *'' Stereum durum'' Lloyd (1919) *'' Stereum earlei'' Burt (1920) *''

Stereum ellipticum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Ryvarden (2020) *'' Stereum elongatum'' Lloyd (1923) *''

Stereum fechtneri ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Velen. (1922) *''

Stereum fomitopsis ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1924) *''

Stereum fragile ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Pat. (1900) *'' Stereum gausapatum'' (Fr.) Fr. (1874) *'' Stereum greslebiniae'' Gorjón & Hallenb. (2012) *''

'' (Willd.) Pers. (1800) *'' Stereum humillimum'' Rick (1959) *'' Stereum hymenoglium'' Speg. (1921) *'' Stereum japonicum'' Yasuda (1923) *'' Stereum javanicum'' Lloyd (1924) *''

Stereum junghuhnii ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Fr. (1851) *'' Stereum kurilense'' Yasuda (1924) *''

Stereum lacunosum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Velen. (1922) *'' Stereum latissimum'' Berk. (1855) *'' Stereum leoninum'' Skovst. (1956) *'' Stereum lithocarpi'' Y.C. Dai (2011) *'' Stereum lobatum'' (Kunze ex Fr.) Fr. (1838) *'' Stereum luzoniense'' Ricker (1906) *''

Stereum macrocystidiatum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' A.L. Welden (1967) *'' Stereum magellanicum'' Ryvarden & Hjortstam (1987) *'' Stereum melanopsis'' Sacc. & P. Syd. (1902) *'' Stereum metallicum'' Rick (1940) *'' Stereum mirabile'' Velen. (1922) *'' Stereum molle'' Berk. (1873) *'' Stereum necator'' Viala (1926) *''

Stereum nigrorugosum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1923) *'' Stereum novomolle'' Lloyd (1922) *'' Stereum nummularium'' Velen. (1922) *'' Stereum nunezii'' Lloyd (1924) *'' Stereum obliquum'' Mont. & Berk. (1844) *''

Stereum obliteratum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Rick (1940) *'' Stereum obscurans'' Burt (1924) *''

Stereum obscurum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1915) *''

Stereum occidentale ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1919) *'' Stereum ochraceoflavum'' (Schwein.) Sacc. (1888) *'' Stereum orthosporum'' E.H.L. Krause (1929) *'' Stereum ostrea'' (Blume & T. Nees) Fr. (1838) - False turkey tail *'' Stereum papillatosporum'' Rehill & B.K. Bakshi (1966) *''

Stereum papyraceum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Massee (1906) *'' Stereum pekinense'' Imazeki (1943) *''

Stereum pendulum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' R. Sasaki (1954) *''

Stereum phalenarum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Kalchbr. ex Bres. (1920) *''

Stereum phoca ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1918) *'' Stereum pileolatum'' E.H.L. Krause (1928) *''

Stereum pseudannosum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1920) *''

Stereum pseudorimosum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Boidin & Gilles (1989) *''

Stereum reflexulum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1936) *'' Stereum rimosum'' Berk. (1851) *'' Stereum roseohirsutum'' Lloyd (1924) *''

Stereum roseum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Yasuda (1922) *'' Stereum rufofulvum'' (Mont.) Pat. & Lagerh. (1895) *'' Stereum rugosum'' Pers. (1794) *'' Stereum sanguinolentum'' (Alb. & Schwein.) Fr. (1838) *''

Stereum scalare ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' P. Karst. (1904) *''

Stereum scutellatum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' G. Cunn. (1956) *'' Stereum spumeum'' Burt (1920) *'' Stereum striatum'' (Fr.) Fr. (1838) *'' Stereum subtomentosum'' Pouzar (1964) *'' Stereum sulphureum'' Rick (1938) *'' Stereum tenerum'' Petch (1925) *''

Stereum thindii ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' A.B. De (1998) *'' Stereum tjibodense'' Henn. (1899) *'' Stereum tomentosum'' Van der Byl (1922) *''

Stereum transvaalium ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Van der Byl (1929) *'' Stereum traplianum'' Velen. (1922) *'' Stereum turgidum'' Lloyd (1916) *''

Stereum underwoodii ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Burt (1926) *'' Stereum unguliforme'' Lloyd (1913) *''

Stereum unicum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' Lloyd (1913) *'' Stereum valdezii'' Lloyd (1923) *'' Stereum variicolor'' Lloyd (1914) *'' Stereum vellereum'' Berk. (1855) *'' Stereum venosulum'' Henn. (1908) *'' Stereum xylostroma'' Lloyd (1922)

Habitat

''Stereum'' species are found to live on all kinds of deadwood or hardwood or dead leaves (they are therefore said to be

saprobic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi ...

). Sometimes they are also found on living leaves.

References

{{Authority control Fungal tree pathogens and diseases Russulales genera Stereaceae