Content
Stereum purple is an inedible species of the Cifell family. The fungus grows as a saprotroph on stumps and dry wood, and as a parasite on deciduous and fruit trees. It often settles on the walls of wooden buildings, leading to rapid decay and destruction. To recognize a mushroom, you need to study its description and view a photo.
Where the stereum magenta grows
The variety begins bearing fruit from September to mid-December. It can be seen on dry wood, tree stumps, and living trunks and roots of deciduous trees. It grows in numerous groups, less often as single specimens. When horticultural crops are damaged, it causes snow-white rot and milky sheen disease. The disease can be recognized by discolored foliage, which eventually becomes shiny with a pronounced silvery sheen. Without treatment, after 2 years, the branches of the affected tree throw off the foliage and dry out.
What does stereum magenta look like?
Purple stereum is a parasitic species with a small disc-shaped fruiting body, about 2-3 cm in size. Felt-fleecy, cream or light brown variety grows on wood in the form of small spots at a young age. With age, the fruit body grows and becomes fan-shaped with wavy slightly drooping edges.
After frost, the fruit body fades and becomes grayish-brown in color with light edges. Due to this color, the parasitic fungus is difficult to recognize, since in appearance it is similar to other types of stereums.
The smooth, slightly wrinkled hymenophore is dark lilac with a light whitish lilac border. Propagated by colorless, cylindrical spores, which are located in the coffee spore powder.
The pulp is thin and tough, with a pleasant spicy aroma. In the section, the upper layer is colored gray-brown, the lower one is pale cream.
Is it possible to eat the stereum purple
Stereum purple is an inedible mushroom. Due to the lack of taste, dense, tough pulp and nutritional value, the variety is not used in cooking.
Similar species
This variety has similar counterparts. These include:
- Fir trichaptum. The fungus grows on dry coniferous wood in multi-layered layers. The small fruiting body is light brown. The surface is felted, pubescent, after rains it becomes covered with algae and acquires a greenish tint. The underside is bright purple, becoming chocolatey and elongated with age.
- Coarse-haired, grows on stumps and dead wood, rarely affects live, weakened deciduous trees. The species is perennial, has a fan-shaped fruit body with unfolded edges. The surface is smooth, painted lemon brown with a greenish tint. Prefers to grow in groups, forming long, wrinkled ribbons. Due to the lack of taste, the species is not used in cooking.
- Felt, distinguished by its larger size, velvety surface and reddish-brown color.Grows on stumps, dry, on diseased, affected trees. The species is inedible, as it has a tough pulp.
Application
Since this variety infects dry wood and causes a fungal disease on apple trees, pears and other stone fruits, both gardeners and workers in woodworking factories struggle with it. And due to the lack of taste and tough pulp, it has no nutritional value and is not used for cooking.
Conclusion
Purple stereum is an inedible member of the Cifell family. The fungus often infects dead wood, treated wood, live fruit trees and the walls of wooden houses. If you do not start a timely fight, the fungus can quickly destroy buildings and reduce the yield of stone fruit trees.
