emblatame (Ron)
Schizophyllum commune Photo - The Top Side Growing on a Twig
Schizophyllum commune is probably the most widespread fungus in existence, being found on every continent except Antarctica, where there is no wood to be used as a substrate. There is a single common worldwide species, although there are a few less common species of Schizophyllum. The genus name means "split gill," and thus this is the split gill fungus. The species name "commune" actually does refer to shared ownership.
We know that there is a single widespread species because of the work of John Raper and his colleagues at Harvard University in the 1950's-1970's. They collected worldwide samples of this fungus. After collecting and germinating the spores into mycelium, they were able to get individuals from all over the world to mate with one another. During that time they were also able to divide the species in mating types (sexes) based on their mating reactions. As long as two strains are of different mating types they are able to mate and form fertile offspring.It does not appear to be very closely related to the other gilled mushrooms, and most researchers place it in its own order the Schizophyllales. The gills function to produce basidiospores on their surface. They appear to be split because they can dry out and rehydrate (and thus open and close) many times over the course of a growing season. The fruiting bodies to the right are probably a year old or more. This is a great adaptation for a climate with sporadic rains. Unlike other mushroom species, the mycelium only has to produce one set of fruiting bodies per year, which can then dry out and rehydrate and keep functioning. It's a great strategy for reproduction. You can probably even go out in the dead of winter and find sporulating fruiting bodies of this fungus. It's a very successful wood decay fungus that causes a white rot. Interestingly, this fungus has also been known to cause a human mycosis in just a few cases involving immunoincompetent people, especially children. In one case, the fungus had grown through the soft palate of a child's mouth and was actually forming fruiting bodies (mushrooms) in her sinuses!!!
We know that there is a single widespread species because of the work of John Raper and his colleagues at Harvard University in the 1950'2-1970's. They collected worldwide samples of this fungus. After collecting and germinating the spores into mycelium, they were able to get individuals from all over the world to mate with one another. During that time they were also able to divide the species in mating types (sexes) based on their mating reactions. As long as two strains are of different mating types they are able to mate and form fertile offspring.
Schizophyllum commune Photo - The Top Side Growing on a Twig
Schizophyllum commune is probably the most widespread fungus in existence, being found on every continent except Antarctica, where there is no wood to be used as a substrate. There is a single common worldwide species, although there are a few less common species of Schizophyllum. The genus name means "split gill," and thus this is the split gill fungus. The species name "commune" actually does refer to shared ownership.
We know that there is a single widespread species because of the work of John Raper and his colleagues at Harvard University in the 1950's-1970's. They collected worldwide samples of this fungus. After collecting and germinating the spores into mycelium, they were able to get individuals from all over the world to mate with one another. During that time they were also able to divide the species in mating types (sexes) based on their mating reactions. As long as two strains are of different mating types they are able to mate and form fertile offspring.It does not appear to be very closely related to the other gilled mushrooms, and most researchers place it in its own order the Schizophyllales. The gills function to produce basidiospores on their surface. They appear to be split because they can dry out and rehydrate (and thus open and close) many times over the course of a growing season. The fruiting bodies to the right are probably a year old or more. This is a great adaptation for a climate with sporadic rains. Unlike other mushroom species, the mycelium only has to produce one set of fruiting bodies per year, which can then dry out and rehydrate and keep functioning. It's a great strategy for reproduction. You can probably even go out in the dead of winter and find sporulating fruiting bodies of this fungus. It's a very successful wood decay fungus that causes a white rot. Interestingly, this fungus has also been known to cause a human mycosis in just a few cases involving immunoincompetent people, especially children. In one case, the fungus had grown through the soft palate of a child's mouth and was actually forming fruiting bodies (mushrooms) in her sinuses!!!
We know that there is a single widespread species because of the work of John Raper and his colleagues at Harvard University in the 1950'2-1970's. They collected worldwide samples of this fungus. After collecting and germinating the spores into mycelium, they were able to get individuals from all over the world to mate with one another. During that time they were also able to divide the species in mating types (sexes) based on their mating reactions. As long as two strains are of different mating types they are able to mate and form fertile offspring.