The Genus Schizophyllum

Abstract

Specimens of fungi assignable to the genus Schizophyllum have been collected in all parts of the world where woody plants grow. They have aroused the interest of people from very early times as evidenced by the fact that primitive people in widely scattered areas know S. commune by specific common names and even use it as a food or as a type of chewing gum. Specimens of Schizophyllum have aroused the interest of collectors ever since fungus fruit bodies have been collected and preserved in herbaria. Because of the similarity of species of Schizophyllum to agarics, especially in the fresh or revived condition, mycologists have classified Schizophyllum in the Agaricaceae (Killermann, 1928; Kauffman, 1918; etc.) or in the Tricholomataceae of the Agaricales (Singer, 1949). There has been some discussion (reviewed by Lohwag, 1941) in which it has been attempted to derive the genus from Skepperia, a stipitate, spathulate, stereaceous fungus usually assigned to the Thelephoraceae (sensu lato), by assuming that a lateral fusion of pilei took place.