page_title: Corticioid fungi
section_title: Description and diversity
hierarchical_section_title: Corticioid fungi / Description and diversity
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Striegeliger oder Zottiger Schichtpilz (Stereum hirsutum)
context_page_description: The corticioid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota typically having effused, smooth basidiocarps that are formed on the undersides of dead tree trunks or branches. They are sometimes colloquially called crust fungi or patch fungi. Originally such fungi were referred to the genus Corticium and subsequently to the family Corticiaceae, but it is now known that all corticioid species are not necessarily closely related. The fact that they look similar is an example of convergent evolution. Since they are often studied as a group, it is convenient to retain the informal name of "corticioid fungi" and this term is frequently used in research papers and other texts.
context_section_description: Corticioid fungi are rather loosely defined, but most have effused fruit bodies, the spore bearing surface typically being smooth to granular or spiny. Some species (in the genera Stereum and Steccherinum, for example) may form fruit bodies that are partly bracket- or shelf-like with a smooth to spiny undersurface.
  The corticioid fungi currently comprise around 1700 species worldwide, distributed amongst some 250 genera. They constitute around 13% of the homobasidiomycetes known to date.
caption: The corticioid fungus Stereum hirsutum, showing an effused fruit body with bracket-like outgrowths
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