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Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum), whole fruiting body
Norbert Nagel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Inedible

Hairy curtain crust

Stereum hirsutum · Stereaceae

The hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum) is a thin, leathery bracket that forms tiered shelves and crusts on dead hardwood, with a hairy, yellow-orange banded top and a smooth underside without pores.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team6 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyStereaceae
SeasonJul–Oct, Dec–May
Spore printWhite
Cap width1–4 cm
Records in Turkey47 records
CultivationWild only
StatusInedible

The hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum) is a thin, leathery bracket that forms tiered shelves and crusts on dead hardwood, with a hairy, yellow-orange banded top and a smooth underside without pores. It is too tough to eat. It looks like turkey tail, but has no pores underneath.

Also called: hairy stereum Turkish: Kıllı katmantarı Synonyms: Thelephora hirsuta

Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum), in its natural habitat

How to recognise it

Hairy curtain crust, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: White No distinctive smell; the flesh is thin, tough and leathery.

Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum), cap seen from above
CapBrackets or crusts 1–4 cm across, thin with a wavy edge; the top is densely hairy, banded yellow, orange and grey-brown, fading as it dries.
Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum), smooth underside, close-up
Smooth undersideThe underside is smooth, with no pores or gills; bright yellow-orange, fading to dull buff with age.
StemNo stem; it is attached directly to the wood.

When and where

Jul–Oct, Dec–May

  1. Janin season
  2. Febin season
  3. Marin season
  4. Aprin season
  5. Mayin season
  6. Jun
  7. Julin season
  8. Augin season
  9. Sepin season
  10. Octin season
  11. Nov
  12. Decin season

The hairy curtain crust persists on wood all year; our records spread over almost every month, peaking in May and late winter (January, March).

Type Inedible

Months seen JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberDecember

Colour YellowOrange

Regions Black Sea RegionMediterranean RegionAegean RegionMarmara RegionDüzceTekirdağManisaMuğlaBoluBursaIstanbulBalıkesir

Where does hairy curtain crust grow?

On dead or felled hardwood: oak, beech, hornbeam, hazel and poplar branches, stumps and log piles. It causes white rot in the wood.

Where is hairy curtain crust found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 47 Turkish records, most from Istanbul (19), plus Manisa, Muğla, Bolu, Balıkesir, Bursa, Düzce, Tekirdağ, Sakarya, Kırklareli, Osmaniye, İzmir, Kocaeli and Edirne.

Other provinces: Kocaeli (1), Edirne (1)

Which months

  1. Jan7
  2. Feb4
  3. Mar7
  4. Apr4
  5. May11
  6. Jun0
  7. Jul4
  8. Aug3
  9. Sep4
  10. Oct1
  11. Nov0
  12. Dec2

hairy curtain crust map of Turkey: all provinces and months →

14 provinces, 47 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest hairy curtain crust observations

On "illustrative" cards the image is a photo of the species; the observation photo cannot be shown here because of its licence, but can be seen at the source.

Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum), in its natural habitat
In its habitat
Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Hairy curtain crust can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Hairy curtain crust.

Hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum), whole fruiting body
This species Hairy curtain crust
Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Hairy curtain crust

Turkey tail Trametes versicolor

Turkey tail has a more multicoloured, velvety top and fine white pores underneath. The hairy curtain crust has a smooth, yellow-orange underside.

False turkey tail (Stereum ostrea) Inedible

not Hairy curtain crust

False turkey tail Stereum ostrea

Larger and more boldly banded, with shorter hairs on top; the underside is also smooth. Telling them apart often needs a microscope.

What it contains

It has no culinary value; the flesh is thin and leathery.

General information, not a health claim.

The hairy curtain crust is not known to be poisonous, but it is too tough and leathery to eat. Do not collect bracket fungi for tea or supplements without an expert confirming the species.

Frequently asked questions

What is Stereum hirsutum?

A thin bracket fungus that forms tiered shelves on dead hardwood, hairy on top with a smooth yellow-orange underside; its Turkish name is kıllı katmantarı.

Is it edible?

No. It is not known to be poisonous, but it is too tough and leathery to eat.

Is it poisonous?

It is not listed as poisonous, but it is still not an edible mushroom.

How do you tell it from turkey tail?

Turn the bracket over: turkey tail has white pores underneath, while the hairy curtain crust is smooth and yellow-orange.

Where does it grow?

On dead branches, stumps and log piles of hardwoods such as oak, beech, hornbeam and hazel.

When can you see it?

It stays on the wood all year; our Turkish records peak in May and from January to March.

Where is it found in Turkey?

Our map data has 47 records, mostly from Istanbul, plus Manisa, Muğla, Bolu, Balıkesir, Bursa, Düzce and other Marmara and Aegean provinces.

Does it harm trees?

It mostly lives on dead or weakened wood, causing white rot and breaking the wood down; it is one of the forest's natural decomposers.

When is hairy curtain crust season in Turkey?

In our calendar, hairy curtain crust season runs Jul–Oct, Dec–May. The hairy curtain crust persists on wood all year; our records spread over almost every month, peaking in May and late winter (January, March).

Where does hairy curtain crust grow?

On dead or felled hardwood: oak, beech, hornbeam, hazel and poplar branches, stumps and log piles. It causes white rot in the wood.

Where is hairy curtain crust found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 47 Turkish records, most from Istanbul (19), plus Manisa, Muğla, Bolu, Balıkesir, Bursa, Düzce, Tekirdağ, Sakarya, Kırklareli, Osmaniye, İzmir, Kocaeli and Edirne.

What can hairy curtain crust be confused with?

Hairy curtain crust can be confused with turkey tail (Trametes versicolor, inedible) and false turkey tail (Stereum ostrea, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is hairy curtain crust called in Turkish?

In Turkish, hairy curtain crust (Stereum hirsutum) is called Kıllı katmantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Mišković ve ark. (2021), Chemistry & Biodiversity: Stereum hirsutum fenolik ve yağ asitleri pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Adanacıoğlu ve ark. (2014), ANADOLU (Ege Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü): Türkiye makromantar genetik kaynakları I. Ege Bölgesi dergipark.org.tr
  3. Wikipedia (EN): Stereum hirsutum en.wikipedia.org
All sources (6)
  1. First Nature: Stereum hirsutum first-nature.com
  2. iNaturalist: Stereum hirsutum (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
  3. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (11)