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Fir gleophyllum is an arboreal species that grows everywhere, but is rare. He is one of the members of the Gleophyllaceae family. This mushroom is perennial, so you can find it in its natural environment all year round. In official sources, it is listed as Gloeophyllum abietinum.
What does fir gleophyllum look like
The fruiting body of fir gleophyllum consists of a cap. It has a semicircular or fan-like shape. The fungus grows singly or in small groups, but as a result of many years of growth, individual specimens grow together and form a single open sessile cap.
Fir gleophyllum is attached to the substrate with its wide side. Its size is small, it reaches 2-8 cm in length, and 0.3-1 cm in width at the base. The edge of the cap is thin, sharp. The color of the fruiting body changes depending on the stage of development. In young specimens, it is amber-beige or brown, and then turns brown-black. The edge of the cap is initially lighter than the main tone, but over time merges with the rest of the surface.
The upper side of the fruiting body in young fir gleophyllums is velvety to the touch. But as it grows, the surface becomes bare and small grooves appear on it.
At the break, you can see the fibrous pulp of a reddish-brown hue. Its thickness is 0.1-0.3 mm. Closer to the surface of the cap, it is loose, and at the edge it is dense.
On the reverse side of the fruiting body, there are rare wavy plates with bridges. Initially, they have a whitish tint, and over time they become brown with a specific bloom. Spores in fir gleophyllum are ellipsoidal or cylindrical. Their surface is smooth. Initially, they are colorless, but when ripe, they acquire a light brown tint. Their size is 9-13 * 3-4 microns.
Fir gleophyllum contributes to the development of brown rot
Where and how it grows
This species grows in the subtropics and temperate zone. The fungus prefers to settle on dead wood and half-rotten stumps of coniferous trees: firs, spruces, pines, cypresses and junipers. Sometimes fir gleophyllum is found on deciduous species, in particular on birch, oak, poplar, beech.
In Russia, the mushroom is widespread throughout the territory, but is more common in the European part, Siberia and the Far East.
Fir gleophyllum also grows:
- in Europe;
- in Asia;
- in the Caucasus;
- in North Africa;
- in New Zealand;
- in North America.
Is the mushroom edible or not
This species is considered inedible. It is strictly forbidden to eat it fresh and processed.
Doubles and their differences
According to its external features, this species can be confused with its other close relative, the intakes gleophyllum, but the latter has a lighter color. Its other names are:
- Agaricus sepiarius;
- Merulius sepiarius;
- Lenzites sepiarius.
The shape of the fruit body of the twin is reniform or semicircular. The size of the cap reaches 12 cm in length and 8 cm in width.The mushroom is classified as inedible.
The surface of young specimens is velvety, and then becomes coarse-haired. Concentric textured zones are clearly visible on it. The color from the edge has a yellow-orange tint, and then turns into a brown tone and turns black towards the center.
The period of active growth of gleophyllum intakes lasts from summer to late autumn, but in countries with a temperate climate, the fungus grows all year round. This species lives on stumps, dead wood and deadwood of coniferous trees, less often deciduous ones. Widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. The official name of the species is Gloeophyllum sepiarium.
Intake gleophyllum is considered an annual tree fungus, but there are also cases of two-year growth of the fruiting body.
Conclusion
Fir gleophyllum, due to its inedibility, does not arouse interest among lovers of quiet hunting. But mycologists are actively studying its properties. Therefore, research in this area is still ongoing.
