Schizophyllum commune
The fuzzy appearance and unique gill structure make this a recognizable fungus at Edgewood.
Appearance
- Fan-shaped, 1-3.5 cm. wide
- Upper surface white and hairy
- Gill-like structures on the underside, which appear split, hence its name
- Spore print white
- Without a stipe (stem)
- Grows alone or in clusters
ID Tips
- May be confused for other bracket-like fungi growing on dead hardwood
- The gill-like structures underneath separate it from hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum) and turkey-tail (Trametes versicolor)
At Edgewood
- See iNaturalist for observations in Edgewood
About
- Basidiomycetes – a major lineage of fungi that usually produce spores within basidia (club-like structures)
- Found throughout the year
- Saprotrophic – grows on dead hardwood (e.g. oaks)
- Occasionally parasitic on living wood
- Edibility (San Mateo County Parks prohibits removal of any natural material)
- Edible but tough; cultivated and eaten in southeast Asia
- Unless you are an expert, do not pick and consume wild mushrooms
Fun Facts
- Found on all continents except Antarctica
- Split gill is morphologically categorized as a pleurotoid mushroom, named for their characteristic oyster-like shape
Learn More
Kuo, M. 2021, Mar. The gilled mushrooms. MushroomExpert.Com.
Kuo, M. 2005, Feb. Pleurotoid mushrooms. MushroomExpert.Com.
Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 14. #013: Characteristics of division Basidiomycota. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.
Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 7. #027: Gilled mushrooms (agarics). Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.
Roehl, T. 2019, Feb. 23. #085: Schizophyllum commune – The mushroom with over 28,000 sexes. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.
Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 7. #180: Pleurotoid mushrooms. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.
References
Desjardin, D.E., M.G. Wood, and F.A. Stevens. 2016. California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Kuo, M. 2021, Apr. Schizophyllum commune. MushroomExpert.Com.
Wood, M., and F. Stevens. 2023. Schizophyllum commune. The Fungi of California. MykoWeb.