Plicaturopsis crispa,[2] the crimped gill or crispling, is a saprotrophic[3][4] species of fungus in the genus Plicaturopsis that can be found in temperate regions year-round, often on hazel, alder, and beech trees.[5]
The fungus has a wide distribution, having been recorded in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.[6] In Britain, its range has been rapidly increasing with 78% of all records of P. crispa in the FRDBI (Fungal Records Database of Britain & Ireland) being from after the year 2000, many of which are in areas with no previous recordings of the species.[3]
Originally described in 1794 by Persoon as Merulius fagineus, he then reclassified it in 1800 as Merulius crispus.[3] Then, in 1821, Fries proceeded to move it into Cantharellus but later, in 1862, had second thoughts and moved it to Trogia,[3] a genus composed of several tropical species with similar hymenial ridges.
In 1872, the American mycologist Peck described a new genus Plicatura (from plicate = folded) for the American fungus P. alni. This fungus had already been described in Europe by Fries as Merulius niveus.[3] This caused Karsten to produce the combination Plicatura nivea. Then, in 1922, Carleton Rea abandoned the genus Trogia and moved T. crispa into Plicatura in his book British Basdiomycetae.[3]
In 1964, Derek Reid emphasized the morphological differences between both of these Plicatura species and erected a new monotypic genus Plicaturopsis for P. crispa.[3]
On the basis of a six-gene study, Binder and colleagues (2010)[7] erected a new order called Amylocorticales that confirmed the previous relationships[7] suggested in Eriksson et al (1981). P. crispa undoubtedly belongs within this group and this new order is sister to the Agaricales.[3]
Its worth noting that Merulius, Cantharellus, Trogia, and Plicatura are not closely related as previously thought but are instead from various different orders[3] (Polporales, Cantharellales, Agaricales, and Amylocorticales respectively).
It forms clusters on typically deciduous trees on decomposing branches.[8][4] Fruit bodies are generally 1-3 cm in length with bracket-like semi-circular shell shapes. Upper surface is normally concentrically zoned getting paler as it approaches the edge. Underside is made up of pale forked folds, giving a gill-like appearance.[5] It produces white spores[5][4] which are small, narrow allantoid, weakly amyloid, and only 3–4.5 x 1–1.2 μm.[3]
Plicaturopsis crispa is an effective participant in the initial phase of decay, colonizing predominantly dead branches of deciduous trees (Fagus and Betula) and is associated with a white rot.[9] A few years into the succession of wood decomposition, strong competitors such as Trametes versicolor and the split-gill fungus Schizophyllum commune often displace P. crispa.[9]
_at_the_fallen_Birch_tree_at_Schaarsbergen_forest._Look_at_the_leaves_to_see_-_panoramio.jpg)
Cluster of P. crispa on a fallen birch Log
_with_hundreds_together_on_a_fallen_Birch_tree_at_Warnsborn-Hoge_Erf_Schaarsb_-_panoramio.jpg)
Fruiting bodies of 'P. crispa
The gill-like ridges of P. crispa
Plicaturopsis crispa, the crimped gill or crispling, is a saprotrophic species of fungus in the genus Plicaturopsis that can be found in temperate regions year-round, often on hazel, alder, and beech trees.
The fungus has a wide distribution, having been recorded in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. In Britain, its range has been rapidly increasing with 78% of all records of P. crispa in the FRDBI (Fungal Records Database of Britain & Ireland) being from after the year 2000, many of which are in areas with no previous recordings of the species.
