Split-gill or Gillies mushrooms (Schizophyllum commune) are a species of fungus in the genus Schizophyllum. The mushroom resembles coral or a Chinese fan, with split gills ranging from creamy yellow to pale white. Its cap is 1–4 centimetres wide, featuring a dense but spongy texture, and it typically grows on rotting wood worldwide. This fungus is an opportunistic environmental pathogen. The edible split-gill mushroom is a therapeutic superfood rich in protein, antioxidants, and a bioactive beta-glucan called schizophyllan. It can be safely eaten by thoroughly cooking it in traditional regional dishes like soups, stir-fries, or mashed vegetable sides like eromba. The split-gill mushroom is a highly efficient wood-rotting fungus. It targets the lignocellulosic materials (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) that give a mango branch its structural strength. The long-flange millipede (Orthomorpha coarctata) feeds on decomposing plant matter, playing an important role in nutrient recycling and soil health. A colony of splitgill mushrooms grows wild on rotting mango tree trunks in rainy seasons, and long-flange millipede insects crawl through it at Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on September 3, 2026.
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