Phlebia radiata

Phlebia radiata, commonly known as the wrinkled crust,^[1] is a common species of crust fungus in the family Meruliaceae. It grows as a wrinkled, orange to pinkish waxy crust on the decaying wood of coniferous and deciduous trees, in which it causes a white rot.

Phlebia radiata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Polyporales
Family:	Meruliaceae
Genus:	Phlebia
Species:	P. radiata
Binomial name
Phlebia radiata Fr. (1821)

Phlebia radiata Mycological characteristics
	Pores on hymenium
	No distinct cap
	Hymenium attachment is not applicable
	Lacks a stipe
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is inedible

Taxonomy

The fungus was first described scientifically in 1821 by Elias Magnus Fries.^[2]

Description

The fruit body of Phlebia radiata is resupinate—flattened against its substrate like a crust. It is wrinkled, orange to pinkish in color, and has a waxy texture. It is circular to irregular in shape, reaching a diameter up to 10 cm (4 in),^[3] although neighbouring fruitbodies may be fused together to form larger complexes up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter. The soft texture of the flesh hardens when the fruitbody becomes old.^[4] The fungus is inedible.^[3]

In mass, the spores are white. Microscopic examination reveals additional spore details: they are smooth, allantoid (sausage-shaped) to elliptical, and inamyloid,^[3] measuring 3.5–7 by 1–3 μm.^[4]

Similar species

Similar species include Botryobasidium vagum, Meruliporia incrassata, Piloderma bicolor, and Serpula lacrymans.^[3]

Habitat and distribution

Phlebia radiata is a saprophytic species, and causes a white rot in the wood it colonizes, fallen logs and branches of both coniferous and hardwood trees.^[3] It is widespread^[4] in the Northern Hemisphere.^{[citation needed]}