''Stereum ostrea'', also called false turkey-tail and golden curtain crust, is a

basidiomycete Basidiomycota () is one of two large divisions that, together with the Ascomycota, constitute the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the kingdom Fungi. Members are known as basidiomycetes. More specifically, Basi ...

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

in the genus ''

Stereum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Until recently, the genus was classified in the Corticiaceae family, of the Corticiales order. However, it was given its own family as a result of the spli ...

''. It is a plant

pathogen In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ ...

and a wood decay

. The name ''ostrea'', from the word '

oyster Oyster is the common name for a number of different families of salt-water bivalve molluscs that live in marine or brackish habitats. In some species, the valves are highly calcified, and many are somewhat irregular in shape. Many, but not al ...

', describes its shape. With concentric circles of many colors, it highly resembles ''

Trametes versicolor ''Trametes versicolor''also known as ''Coriolus versicolor'' and ''Polyporus versicolor''is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Meaning 'of several colors', ''versicolor'' reliably describes this fungus that displays a variet ...

'', turkey-tail, and is thus called the 'false turkey-tail'. The stemless fruiting body is shell-like and grows high. It is tough and inedible. It grows on tree bark. This fungus is native to North America, where it is widespread and grows all year round.

Description

Stereum ostrea (False Turkey-tail Fungus)

It gets its name 'false turkey-tail' because it mimics ''

''. They can be distinguished as ''T. versicolor'' has numerous pores on the underside of its fruiting body, unlike ''S. ostrea''. Also, ''S. ostrea'' is more red in color. Factors such as its relatively large size and shell-like (not flat) body distinguish it from other members of the genus ''Stereum''. The fruiting body is wide, shaped like a shell and thin. Its surface can be hairy or smooth at the very first, growing smoother with age. The concentric zones can have a variety of colors - ranging from yellowish red to a dark brown. If

algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...

grow on it, the color can change to green. The flesh is very thin and too tough to eat, with no distinct odor. The fungus lacks a stem. The underside is smooth and lacks pores, white to gray or a reddish-brown shade in color. The spore is white, and measures x . It is inedible.

Chemical properties

''Stereum ostrea'' produces lignolytic enzymes, which decompose

lignin Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants. Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidity ...

. The enzyme production was compared for ten days with ''

Phanerochaete chrysosporium ''Phanerochaete'' is a genus of crust fungi in the family Phanerochaetaceae. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Finnish mycologist Petter Karsten in 1889. Marinus Anton Donk redefined the limits of the genus in two publications in 1957 ...

'', in a liquid medium. ''S. ostrea'' produced a higher number of

laccase Laccases () are multicopper oxidases found in plants, fungi, and bacteria. Laccases oxidize a variety of phenolic substrates, performing one-electron oxidations, leading to crosslinking. For example, laccases play a role in the formation of lign ...

, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase enzymes. the discoloration of the dye Remazol confirmed the presence of enzymes. Methoxylaricinolic acid and laricinolic acid have been isolated from this mushroom. Sterostreins A–E (1, 2, 3a/3b, 4, and 5) have been found in ''S. ostrea'', of which sterostrein A showed antimalarial activity and was

cytotoxic Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are an immune cell or some types of venom, e.g. from the puff adder (''Bitis arietans'') or brown recluse spider (''Loxosceles reclusa''). Cell physiology Treating cells ...

Habitat and distribution

''Stereum ostrea'' is

saprophytic 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 (f ...

in nature. It is a

plant pathogen Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomyc ...

, growing on hardwood tree barks, especially oak, and decaying parts. It leaves white deposits in these places. It grows individually, but in a dense manner. ''

Phlebia incarnata ''Phlebia incarnata'' is a species of polypore fungus in the family Meruliaceae. It is inedible. Taxonomy The species was originally described as ''Merulius incarnatus'' by Lewis David de Schweinitz in 1822. In its taxonomic history, it has b ...

'', another fungus, is most commonly found growing alongside or even intermingled with this species. This fungus can be parasitized by

jelly fungi Jelly fungi are a paraphyletic group of several heterobasidiomycete fungal orders from different classes of the subphylum Agaricomycotina: Tremellales, Dacrymycetales, Auriculariales and Sebacinales. These fungi are so named because their foli ...

. It grows all year round and is widespread in North America.

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q2710042 Fungi described in 1838 Fungi of North America Inedible fungi Stereaceae