Taxonomy
Schizophyllum commune
Red List Status -
Description
Cap: usually shell or fan shaped, with a radius of 10 – 30 mm and a narrow point of attachment to the wood which can be lateral (on the side) or dorsal (on the upper surface). It is more or less hairy, zoned and white to grey to grey brown on its upper surface and often furrowed and with a toothed irregular margin.
Stipe: absent.
Gills: lower surface consists of radiating pinkish gills with a split edge.
Flesh: tough, fibrous and somewhat ochraceous.
Spore print: ochraceous.
Spores: cylindrical, 6 – 7 × 2 – 2.5 µm.
Notes: this small white to grey brown bracket on dead wood with split gills cannot be mistaken for anything else. This is a very common fungus with a worldwide range. It is dangerous to breathe in the spores of this fungus as they are known to have germinated in people’s lungs causing serious infections.