Stereoum purple is an inedible species of the Zifellaceae family. The fungus grows as a saprotroph on stumps and dry wood, and as a parasite on deciduous and fruit trees. Often it 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 does stereoum purple grow?

The variety begins fruiting from September to mid-December. It can be seen on dry wood, on stumps, as well as living trunks and roots of deciduous trees. Grows in numerous groups, rarely single specimens. When horticultural crops are affected, it causes snow-white rot and a 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 take off the foliage and dry out.

Important! The fungus is widely distributed in temperate regions.

What stereomagenta looks like

Stereum purple is a parasitic species with a small disc-shaped fruiting body, about 2-3 cm in size. The felt-hairy, cream or light brown variety grows on wood in the form of small spots at a young age. With age, the fruiting body grows and becomes fan-shaped with wavy, slightly lowered edges.

Stereom purple: photo and description

After frost, the fruiting body fades and becomes a grayish-brown color with light edges. Due to this color, the parasitic fungus is difficult to recognize, since it is similar in appearance to other types of stereums.

The smooth, slightly wrinkled hymenophore is dark lilac with a light whitish-lilac edging. It reproduces by colorless, cylindrical spores, which are located in coffee spore powder.

The flesh is thin and hard, with a pleasant spicy aroma. On the section, the upper layer is painted in a gray-brown color, the lower one is pale cream.

Is it possible to eat stereum purple

Stereoum purple is an inedible mushroom. Due to the lack of taste, dense, hard pulp and nutritional value, the variety is not used in cooking.

Similar species

This variety has similar counterparts. These include:

  1. Trihaptum fir. The fungus grows on dry coniferous wood in multilayer tiers. A small fruiting body is colored light brown. The surface is felt, pubescent, after rains it becomes covered with algae and acquires a greenish tint. The underside is bright purple, becoming chocolate and elongated with age.

    Stereom purple: photo and description

  2. Rough-haired, grows on stumps and dead wood, rarely affects living, weakened deciduous trees. The species is perennial, has a fan-shaped fruiting body with unfolded edges. The surface is smooth, painted in a lemon-brown color with a greenish tint. It prefers to grow in groups, forming long, wrinkled ribbons. Due to the lack of taste, the species is not used in cooking.

    Stereom purple: photo and description

  3. Felt, differs in larger sizes, a velvety surface and a reddish-brown color. It grows on stumps, dead wood, on diseased, affected trees. The species is inedible, as it has a hard pulp.

    Stereom purple: photo and description

Application

Since this variety affects dry wood and causes a fungal disease on apple trees, pears and other stone fruits, both gardeners and woodworkers fight it. And due to the lack of taste and hard pulp, it has no nutritional value and is not used for cooking.

Conclusion

Stereum purple is an inedible member of the Cyfella 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.

Stereoum and Hypoxylon

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