Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum) Identification

Hairy Curtain Crust / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible

Through this post we’re going to be delving into the Hairy Curtain Crust Fungi that is sometimes confused for the Turkey Tails Mushroom.

If you’re anything like me, the sight of fungi peeking out from tree trunks and fallen logs on a woodland walk is always a moment of curiosity and wonder. There’s something magical about the variety of shapes, colours, and textures these hidden gems bring to the forest floor.

One I come across really often is the charming Stereum hirsutum, or hairy curtain crust. It’s not the showiest fungus in the woods, but once you’ve noticed it, you’ll start spotting its delicate, fan-like forms everywhere. Clinging to decaying wood, it seems to drape itself over the surface, its tiny, velvety hairs catching the light.


Scientific Name

Stereum hirsutum


Common Name

Hairy curtain crust fungus, false turkey tail


Family

Stereaceae


Habitat and Season to find Hairy Curtain Crust

Saprophytic growing of dead hardwood particularly oak and beech, occasionally conifer trees.

Never out the ground

Is apparently a parasite on peach trees.

Can be seen all year, but growing in damper conditions and sporulating in autumn.


Identifying Features of the False Turkey Tail (Hairy Curtain Crust)

This is a bracket polypore fungus that grows directly off wood usually in dense horizontal overlapping clusters.

hairy curtain crust in group


Shape

No stem. The fruiting body is fan shaped 2-8cm wide, very thin- only 1mm thick. had a wavy uneven margin 

Stereum hirsutum close up


Flesh 

tough but flexible like rubber


Stem

This fungus has no stem


Upper side

radial bands of colour in shades of off white, ochre, orange and browns.

Bracket surface is slightly hairy as the name suggests.

false turkey tail from side


Underside

Polypore- lots of tiny holes like sponge. Off ochre/orange turning beige with age.


Smell:

No notable odour or taste, it’s very slightly mushroomy


Spores

white


Uses of Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Curtain Crust)

Inedible so not a culinary mushroom but is said to have some medicinal properties 

It has potential as a blood thinning medication due to its inhibitory activity on thrombin

Has been used environmentally to aid decontamination of BPA in river water 

Possess epidioxysterols that show significant effect against TB

Clinical tests have shown it has food antioxidant properties 


Conservation Considerations 

Very common 


The False Turkey Tail Could Be Confused With…

very similar is Stereum subtomentosum which is must less hairy if at all, brighter colours more of a flatter even shape.

This is most commonly misidentified for turkey tail giving it its common name false turkey tail. The main differences are turkey tail is more commonly in shades of blues, is not hairy and the underside is pure white as a pose to off orange/ochre.


Caution and known hazards 

None known


Extra Tips and Fun Facts about the Hairy Curtain Crust

Has obtained its name Stereum hirsutum though stereum which means ‘tough’ and hirsutum meaning hairy 

A fungus called Tremella aurantia paratasizes hairy curtain crust fungus 


Resources

Nature-first.com

https://monicawilde.com/hairy-curtain-bracket/#:~:text=It%20is%20not%20edible%20as,against%20methicillin-resistant%20Staphylococcus%20aureus.