Stipe consistency is determined by attempting to bend the stipe, and also by attempting to crumble the stipe into pieces, as if crumbling dried bread. This feature must be determined on fresh material that is not overmature or waterlogged.

Choose this state if: the stipe is dry and very hard (woody) or quite tough (leathery). The stipe does not crumble readily into smaller pieces, and is not deformed by pressure. Another term for leathery is coriaceous.