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False Turkey Tails

Stereum hirsutum

Description:

Stereum hirsutum, commonly known as "curtain crust" and "false turkey tail", is a basidiomycete fungus in the family Stereaceae. Stereum ostrea, also commonly known as false turkey tail, is sometimes considered a variety of Stereum hirsutum. I am definitely leaning towards Stereum hirsutum as the ID for this spotting. http://qldfungi.org.au/wp-content/upload... The description given in this pdf by Queensland Mycological Society is definitely describing what I saw. Upper surface was definitely hairy (2nd photo), hence the Latin "hirsutum" (hirsute in English, meaning "hairy"), with coloured bands of various brown and dark yellow shades, and harder margins. Lower surface was smooth and leathery without pores, but the colour wasn't grey, having a more neutral colour with a slight yellowish-tinge. Perhaps this is an indication that these are immature specimens. Stereum species are wood-decaying fungi.

Habitat:

Found on a dead tree trunk on the banks of Dalrymple Creek, along the North Branch Trail in subtropical rainforest. Cool, damp, well-shaded area. This area is known as the "Goomburra Section" of Main Range National Park. The park forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Native trees such as bloodwoods, coachwoods, etc., plus lush groundcover with various fern species, narrow-leaved palm lilies, etc.

Notes:

Here's a recent spotting I made of Stereum ostrea - https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/17... Note they are more well-defined brackets, and not as broadly attached to the substrate as this spotting. However, I'm baffled by fungus at the best of times, so your thoughts and suggestions are most welcome.

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Neil Ross
Spotted by
Neil Ross

Warwick, QLD, Australia

Spotted on May 19, 2018
Submitted on Jun 14, 2019

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