Stats

Lifespan

Annual

Size

Small

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

This shell-shaped fungus grows in overlapping clusters on decaying forest wood. Its tough, leathery body uses chemical enzymes to break down lignin and recycle dead trees.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   spore

   A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
2. 2.
   mycelium

   A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
3. 3.
   fruiting body

   A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Basidiomycota

Class

Agaricomycetes

Order

Russulales

Family

Stereaceae

Genus

Stereum

Species

Stereum ostrea