Xylobolus frustulatus (Stereaceae): Developmental Observations, Morphology, and Ecology Bob O’Kennon, Denis Benjamin, and Harold W. Keller Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76107-3400 Corresponding author: Harold W. Keller, Email:
[email protected] Abstract—Xylobolus frustulatus, Introduction 1900’s (see www. MyCoPortal.org). At a wood-rotting fungus known as Xylobolus frustulatus is a well that time, many classified it in the genus the ceramic or parchment fungus described crust fungus, widely known Stereum, another crust basidiomycete in the Stereaceae, was observed as the ceramic or parchment fungus fungus (Boidin, 1958). It currently is continually over a twelve-month because of its striking appearance classified in the family Stereaceae with period in the Fort Worth Nature when mature (Persoon, 1801; Boidin, other corticioid, perennial, effused, Center and Refuge near the city of 1958; Kuo, 2008). The crust breaks into wood-rotting fungi such as Stereum. Fort Worth, Texas. The distribution, irregular ivory colored plates “frustules” Review of Guttation Droplets habitat, and morphology of this separated by a dark sepia “grout.” Its Liquid droplets (guttation) form on fungus is described. The moist preferred host is mature, dead, decaying, the young, developing fruiting bodies of young stages in early development of decorticate, oak trees of a variety of taxa. Xylobolus frustulatus. The mechanism of this fungus produce clear to amber- Most of the records are in the eastern guttation in fungi is poorly understood, colored liquid droplets (guttation) USA as well as in Europe and Asia, although it is widespread in some and look morphologically different perhaps because of its host association, wood-rotting genera, especially in the from the fruiting bodies when fully although there is one record from Polyporaceae.