Crepidotus is a genus of mushrooms with small, convex to fan-shaped sessile caps. They are saprobic on wood and plant debris.
Members of this genus have cheilocystidia on the cap and spore prints that range from yellow-brown to brown. These features are used to separate species. They also help determine the presence or absence of clamp connections.
Characteristics
A genus of spore-producing basidiomycetes, Crepidotus includes over 200 species (Senn-Irlet, 1995; Consiglio & Setti, 2008). Although some taxonomists use morphology to determine infrageneric relationships within the genus, molecular phylogenetic studies of the genus have shown that infrageneric classification remains based on a variety of morphological features [7,8,9].
The spores of most Crepidotus are without a germ pore and often lack pleurocystidia. They can produce bumpy spores or smooth spores, and the pileus usually has no green tint. In addition, many Crepidotus have a thin top layer of spores on the pileus.
Most of the basidiospores of Crepidotus are dark brown to black, but some have a yellowish to orange color. A number of Crepidotus species have been reclassified from other genera and a new yellow species is now recognized in this genus (Guzman-Davalos, Pradeep, Vrinda, Kumar, Ramirez-Cruz, Herrera, Villalobos-Arambula, Soytong, Baroni, & Aime, 2017).
Species in this genus are found throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. They grow on a wide range of trees, from deciduous to coniferous. Most of the basidiomata are found on decaying trunks and stumps, while others grow on a standing tree or on a broken stump.
In North America, Crepidotus is known from a wide range of habitats and climates, including subalpine forests, high deserts, bogs, streams, and even urban parks. Several of the more common species occur in the southern US.
One of the most distinctive features of a crepidous mushroom is its orange-to-yellow color. This is due to a gelatinous layer that extends between the gills, forming a void on the cap surface that is filled in by the spores and the cystidia that grow on the gill edges. The cap is generally white when young, and eventually becomes tan-brown with age.
To accurately identify a crepidous, look at its spores under a microscope. If the spores are brownish yellow, then it is a crepidous.
Another characteristic of crepidous is the presence of clamp connections on the gills. These connections form an interlocking mesh that allows the gills to close together. Some other distinguishing features of this genus include its pale basidiospores and whip-like cheilocystidia.
Habitat
The genus crepidotus is comprised of small, fan-shaped, sessile, saprobic fungi that are typically secondary decomposers. The genus includes European, Neotropical, and North American species.
These fungi fruit from wood-dwelling tree roots, usually underneath the log or branch on which they grow. Mushrooms of this genus often have a circular shape, though the shape can vary depending on where they are growing on the log or branch.
In western North America, Crepidotus species are often found in the lower elevations of oak, madrone, and pine forests. They are often abundant on these trees, and they can be good sources of food for birds and mammals. However, these mushrooms are not edible and may be toxic.
Some of these mushrooms can also be found on decaying logs. In this situation, the mushroom often resembles a peach or orange peel. These mushrooms often produce spores that are brown or white, and they may be difficult to identify down to species level.
The most interesting of the genus is Crepidotus cinnabarinus, which is usually red, but sometimes has yellow-orange gills. This species is very rare, and it is difficult to identify unless you have a microscope and a lot of patience.
Crepidotus species are sometimes confused with other ‘pleurotoid’ mushrooms (mushrooms that have gills and a rudimentary stipe). The easiest way to separate these mushrooms from the genus Pleurotus is by taking a spore print. Most other pleurotoid mushrooms have pale spore prints, and most Crepidotus species have a dark or nearly black spore print.
These spores are generally quite large and thick, although not always. The spores are also sometimes rounded, which can help to distinguish them from the other genus Pleurotus.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates that this genus is monophyletic and not part of the order Melanomphalia. Previously, the two genera were considered to be closely related, but this relationship has recently been questioned.
Specimens from tropical rain forests in Mexico and Costa Rica were examined for morphological differences. Two species were recorded from these regions: Crepidotus rubrovinosus and Crepidotus septicoides. This paper provides a new record for Crepidotus rubrovinosus, which has been previously known only from one location in Brazil and another in tropical rain forest of southern Veracruz State. Descriptions, illustrations and discussions of both taxa are provided.
Significance
The adage “Greed is good” might have something to do with it, but you might have heard that a lot of people have been having a hard time making ends meet. In fact, many people have been slapped with foreclosure notices in recent months. This has caused an economic resurgence in some places, whereas it could be a harbinger of doom in others. It’s a bit of a mystery why, but one possible explanation is that many Americans simply do not have the money to spend on luxury items such as fine wines or designer clothing. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to earn extra cash, it’s a great idea to get into the habit of saving for the rainy day. Having a savings account in place before you have to start thinking about your next mortgage is the best way to ensure that you’ll be able to pay your bills when it comes time to do so.
Identification
Crepidotus mollis, the Peeling Oysterling, is one of those fungi that are often overlooked, or misidentified, by mushroom hunters. It is also sometimes called a soft slipper mushroom, or jelly crep, because of its gelatinous cuticle.
This genus was established by Friedrich Staude in 1857 and has about 150 species worldwide. It is an astipitate genus of agarics with pigmented spores that lack a germ pore and usually lack pleurocystidia. These characteristics are important for identifying Crepidotus, and distinguish it from the many brown-spored astipitate genera with pigmented spores that have germ pores (e.g., Melanotus Pat.).
Basidiomata pileate, sessile (laterally or dorsally attached to the substrate), gregarious in sparse to dense groups, often imbricate. Cap variable in color, but covered with fibrillose brown scales; odor and taste mild. Gills fan out from the attachment point and are pale brown in young fruiting bodies but turn rusty with age.
It is common on debarked hardwood or hardwood litter (rarely conifer) and can be found in a variety of habitats, from the woods to the desert. It is also commonly cultivated as an ornamental fungus in Europe.
In the United States, it is common in oak-hickory forests. It is occasionally found on other hardwoods and conifers, and it can be seen growing on logs.
Depending on the habitat, these mushrooms can form a ring around the base of a tree. They can also be found in a single large, rounded cluster.
The name Crepidotus is derived from the Greek words crepid- meaning a base or shoe, and otus, which means an ear. In the past, these mushrooms were referred to as slipper mushrooms.
A common misconception is that these mushrooms are edible, however, they are not. They are not suitable for human consumption because of their low nutrient value, and the high water content can cause bloating and diarrhea.
Several species are recognized by a characteristic brown spore print, which is often mistaken for a small oyster mushroom. However, these mushrooms seldom approach the size of an oyster mushroom and are rarely found in the wild, unless they have been transported from an area of disturbed habitat. Other field characters that help distinguish this fungus include the spore print and the gelatinous cap cuticle.
