Got a photo? Identify mushrooms instantly with the Mushby app
Open the appDescription
Oak Curtain Crust (Stereum ostrea) is a bracket fungus typically found on dead wood. It is characterized by its colorful, wavy, and thin brackets that resemble a curtain. The upper surface displays concentric zones of various colors, while the underside is smooth and lacks pores.
How to Identify
- Cap
- The 'cap' is a bracket-like structure, thin and wavy, with concentric zones of color.
- Gills
- Absent; the underside is smooth.
- Stem
- Absent; the fruiting body is sessile (attaches directly to the wood).
- Flesh
- Thin and tough.
- Fruiting body
- Bracket-like, growing horizontally on wood.
- Habitat
- Grows on dead hardwood, especially oak.
Key Facts
- Cap surfaces: Smooth, with concentric zones.
- Growth Form: Bracket-like, growing in overlapping clusters.
- Spore Print: White.
- Body color: Various shades of brown, tan, and cream, often with zones of orange or reddish-brown.
- Odor: Indistinct.
- Flesh bruises: Does not typically bruise.
- Height: Less than 1 cm thick.
- Cap Diameter: Up to 10 cm wide.
- Nutrient gathering: Saprobic.
Safe
SafeNon-toxic, but not typically consumed due to its tough texture.
Quick Check
- Odor: Mild, indistinct.
- Fruiting: Year-round.
- Substrate: Dead hardwood, especially oak.
Where to Find
Deciduous Forests
Found on decaying hardwood, especially oak.
Woodland Areas
Prefers shaded, moist environments.
Finding Tips
Habitat
Look for it on fallen branches or standing dead trees.
Appearance
Check for the distinctive colorful, wavy brackets.
Similar Species
Turkey Tail
Trametes
Also known as: Turkey Tail
Stereum Sanguinolentum
Stereum
Also known as: Bleeding Broadleaf Crust
Scientific Classification
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Russulales
- Family
- Stereaceae
- Genus
- Stereum
Storage Information
- Max Temperature: N/A
- Freezing duration: N/A
- Min Temperature: N/A
- Refrigeration: N/A
How to Clean
Not applicable, as this fungus is not typically consumed.
Explore Oak Curtain Crust
Identify mushrooms anywhere
Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo identification, full database, and your personal collection.