Splitgills / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Inedible

By Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand – Schizophyllum commune (Split gill), CC0,

By Tonja from Missouri, USA – Nature does pleats, CC BY 2.0,

Jason Swanson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Splitgill (Schizophyllum commune) might be small in size, but it’s a giant when it comes to intrigue. This delicate, fan-shaped fungus is one of the most widespread mushrooms on the planet, thriving on deadwood in a variety of habitats, from UK woodlands to tropical forests. Its distinctive gills, which split and curl like tiny ribbons, give it a unique appearance that’s hard to miss once you know what to look for.

In this post, we’ll explore how to identify the Splitgill, where to find it, and why it’s such an extraordinary survivor in the fungal kingdom.

Scientific Name

Schizophyllum commune

Common Name

Splitgills / Split gill fungus

Family

Schizophyllaceae

Habitat and season

Primarily saprophytic growing off dead hardwood occasionally growing on damaged or dying trees too.

Long lived can be seen all year round.

Widespread, common in the west but not so much in the north and east.

Identifying Features of the Splitgill

Such an amazing fungi to come across, reminiscent of coral.

Flesh

Delicate and rubbery when young, Tough when old.

Cap

Small 1-3 cm and .3-1 cm thick. White and hairy, older caps can be a little wavy on the margin. Curving down slightly and can also fuse into neighbouring caps.

Gills

Dusty pink, with lighter gill edges radiating from where the fungi attaches to the wood, not technically gills but folds which are centrally spilt lengthways then often folk near the edge of the cap. This is a clever adaptation to cope with changing climates.

The Splitgill (Schizophyllum commune) might be small in size, but it’s a giant when it comes to intrigue. This delicate, fan-shaped fungus is one of the most widespread mushrooms on the planet, thriving on deadwood in a variety of habitats, from UK woodlands to tropical forests. Its distinctive gills, which split and curl like tiny ribbons, give it a unique appearance that’s hard to miss once you know what to look for.While the Splitgill isn’t edible, its fascinating structure and adaptability make it a species worth learning about. In this post, we’ll explore how to identify the Splitgill, where to find it, and why it’s such an extraordinary survivor in the fungal kingdom. from underside — By Snorri2 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

Stem

Which is more of a neck where the fungi tapers in, it is very short or sometimes not visible. .

Smell:

Not distinctive

Spores

white

Uses

Inedible, tough

However according to the literature in Indonesia and southeast Africa, Mexico, China and other tropical countries where soft fungi decay very quickly, the Splitgill is widely considered edible, even a delicacy, and used in soups, stir-frys, loafs, and as a drink. Because the Splitgill has very tough flesh it doesn’t perish in the heat like others.

Splitgill Could Be Confused With

Nothing similar that has a white hairy cap and gills (folds) that split.

Possibly the hairy curtain crust which doesn’t have the gills structure

Caution and known hazards

Has been known, though incredibly rare to become a human pathogen, mostly in immuno-compromsed individuals but not always so, most commonly causing sinusitis.

Extra Tips and Fun Facts

Schizophyllum is derived from Greek meaning split.

This amazing fungi during times of drought can dedicate closing its gills to protects them for months even years! until the right conditions return and it will again open the splits and release its spores. This clever feature allows the Splitgil to live on every continent of the planet except Antarctica.