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The representative of the family Kortidia willow cytidia (Stereum salicinum, Terana salicina, Lomatia salicina) is a wood-dwelling mushroom. It parasitizes the branches of old or weakened trees. Does not represent nutritional value, the mushroom is inedible.
Where does cytidia willow grow
A perennial microscopic fungus can exist only in symbiosis with willow, poplar, less often other deciduous species. The main distribution - on old weakened dying branches, also grows on new dead wood.
Common cytidia willow 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 occurs in mountainous regions and the Black Sea coastal forests, in warm climates it bears fruit throughout the year. In temperate climates, young fruiting bodies appear in spring, growth continues until late autumn. At high air humidity during the season, the fungus covers large areas of the branches and trunk, on which it parasitizes.
In winter, cytidia is dormant, old fungi do not die for about 3-5 seasons, they continue to spread along with young specimens. In dry weather, dying fruit bodies lose moisture, become tough, dry out significantly, and acquire the color of wood. You can see them only with a detailed examination of the branch section.
What does Cytidia willow look like?
Cytidia willow has a simple macroscopic structure of the fruiting body with the following characteristics:
- the shape of an irregular circle, the transverse length is 3-10 mm, it happens 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 - a jelly-like consistency with an oily surface. Dry mushrooms - tough, horny, not losing color;
- location - prostrate, sometimes with raised edges, which are easily separated from the surface.
They begin to grow singly, over time they form small groups in different places of the tree bark. Growing up, the groups are connected in a solid line, reaching up to 10-15 cm.
Is it possible to eat willow cytidia
In biological reference books, Cytidia willow is in the group of inedible species. No toxicity information available. But the slender fruiting body, which is at first tough when dry and jelly-like during precipitation, is unlikely to arouse gastronomic interest.
Similar species
Radial cytidia of willow phlebia is similar in appearance, mode of development and places of growth. It parasitizes dry deciduous trees, old dead wood.
A similar species is distinguished by a larger size of the fruit body, forms wide or long conglomerates. The color is closer to orange; in dry weather, a dark purple spot begins to grow from the central part and spread to the edges. May become completely black or colorless when frozen. Rounded shape with serrated raised edges. The surface is bumpy. Mushrooms with a one-year growing season, inedible.
Application
Fruit bodies are inedible, they are not used in any form for processing. They also did not find application in folk medicine. In the ecological system, like any biological species, the fungus has a specific function. From symbiosis with dying wood, it receives the necessary microelements for development, in turn inhibits the process of rotting and decomposition of dead wood.
Conclusion
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 the chemical composition.
