Panellus stipticus

Panellus stipticus
Image Courtesy of Eleanor Yarrow
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Group of Fungi: Agarics

Family: Mycenaceae

Latin Name: Panellus stipticus (Bull.) P. Karst.

Synonym(s): Panus stipticus (Bull.) Fr.

Common Name: Luminescent Panellus

Description: Semicircular, shell-shaped to kidney-shaped structure, solitary or occurring in small clusters; cap 3/8–1 1/4 in (1–3 cm) across and 1/16–1/8 in (0.15–0.3 cm) thick, brown to buff or tan, surface hairy to scruffy-scaly; gills moderately close, salmon to orange-buff; stalk short, off-center, 1/8–1/4 (0.3–0.5 cm) long and 1/8–3/8 (0.3–1.0 cm) thick, dirty white to yellowish brown, densely hairy; spores white in mass.

Biological Role: Decomposer of wood.

Habitat: On decaying wood of broadleaf trees; occurring in groups of overlapping fruiting bodies.

Geographical Distribution: Widely distributed throughout North America.

Comments: As indicated by its common name, Panellus stipticus is another example of a bioluminescent fungus. The gills give off a green glow in complete darkness. The fruiting bodies have been used in traditional medicine to stop bleeding. This fungus is not edible and there is some evidence that it should be regarded as poisonous.



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