Family Stereaceae Pilát

Hedwigia 70: 34 (1930)

Type: Stereum Hill ex Pers. 1794

This is the core group of stereoid fungi. There are 3 genera in the Chicago Region. They have a smooth hymenium on a pileate, effused-reflexed, or discoid fruitbody. They cause a white rot on dead wood and are often found in large numbers. Our Aleurodiscus grows on bark of living trees.

1. Aleurodiscus
2. Stereum
3. Xylobolus

Taxonomy:

The stereoid fungi were previously placed in the family Thelephoraceae when it had a broad morphological concept. For a recent phylogeny see Wu et al. (2001).

Related links:

Wu, S.-H., D. S. Hibbett, and M. Binder 2001. Phylogenetic Analyses of Aleurodiscus s.l. and Allied Genera. Mycologia 93(4): 720-731. JSTOR

Taxon links:

81424 MycoBank ; Index Fungorum