Split-gill?

Camilo · #1 (**permalink**) 26-01-2012, 08:51 AM

I thought that this may be of interest, even though it was found in a beech wood not far from Rome last week-end.

I believe it is a split-gill (Schizophyllum commune) which, according to Michael Jordan (p128), is infrequent in the UK. That's why I share the images and invite confirmation or rejection of my stab at identification.

flaxton · #2 (**permalink**) 26-01-2012, 10:20 AM

I don't think you will get many rejections with that id.

Mal

Ditiola · #3 (**permalink**) 26-01-2012, 12:07 PM

Yes Camilo as Mal says; you are quite right.

It is the only fungus with gills that are longitudinally split along the edges. I have only found it on growing on wood at two sites, and I just happened to have photographed it at the second site only last week and was about to post the photo to the Gallery. In Britain it is also known to have jumped habitat a number of years ago onto plastic wrapped Hay Bales, where it can be found breaking through the plastic wrapping. On this habitat it usually forms dense tufts quite different from when it is on wood and is present on a couple of farms near where I live. There was some scare stories around a few years ago that it may be pathogenic to man, and so not to inhale the spores! This was due to and story of the invasion into brain tissue of a patient in America, although this patient had a much reduced immune system following drug therapy for an other illness.

Peter

Chris Yeates · #4 (**permalink**) 26-01-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ditiola

. . . . In Britain it is also known to have jumped habitat a number of years ago onto plastic wrapped Hay Bales, where it can be found breaking through the plastic wrapping. . . . .
Peter

as here: Common Porecrust - Schizophyllum commune - Wildlife Photography

Chris

Camilo · #5 (**permalink**) 27-01-2012, 09:56 AM

It seems that bales are an attractive habitat. This was found on plastic-wrapped silage (higher moisture content than hay) in December. I identfied it as common earth-fan (Thelophora terrestris). (But, as always, welcome contradictions and clarifications!). Perhaps it is the moist, warm (because of fermentation) conditions that are attractive to some fungi. That is a fine picture of Schizophyllum on the bale.