Fauna
Fungus

Crowded Parchment

Stereum complicatum

Also known as Crowded Stereum

Crowded parchment forms dense, overlapping clusters of thin, papery crusts on decaying hardwood logs and fallen branches. Vibrant orange and wavy when damp, the ruffled brackets fade to pale tan during dry spells and revive readily with fresh rain. Operating primarily as saprotrophs, they break down tough lignin and cellulose, recycling essential nutrients back into forest soils.

Wood-DecayingForestCrust Fungus
Crowded Parchment reference1 / 7
(c) Christine Young, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christine Young · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDecaying hardwood, Lignin, Cellulose
Predators
  • Fungus beetles
  • Slugs
  • Springtails
ThreatsDeforestation, removal of coarse woody debris
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, mixed forests, orchards
Life span1–2 years
Classification
  1. OrderRussulales
  2. FamilyStereaceae
  3. GenusStereum
  4. SpeciesStereum complicatum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Substrate Inspection: Search the tops and sides of fallen oak, beech, and maple limbs after rain.
  • Underside Check: Examine the smooth, poreless underside to distinguish it from polypores.
Related species
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