Description

• Schizophyllum is a genus of wood-decaying fungi in the family Schizophyllaceae, best known for Schizophyllum commune, commonly called split-gill. Fruiting bodies are small to medium-sized, fan-shaped or shell-like, with tough, hairy caps that are often white, grey, or pale brown. The underside has distinctive radiating gill-like folds whose edges can split and curl apart in dry conditions.

Range

• Schizophyllum has a worldwide distribution and is particularly widespread in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. The genus occurs throughout Mexico, including Guerrero and the Pacific coastal region, and Schizophyllum is common around Zihuatanejo where suitable dead wood is present.

Habitat

• Species grow primarily on dead or dying wood, including branches, logs, stumps, fallen trunks, and woody plant debris. They are especially common in humid forests and tropical woodland but also occur in gardens, agricultural areas, and disturbed habitats. Fruiting bodies can survive periods of drying and resume activity when moisture returns.