False polypore (Fomitiporia robusta)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
- Order: Hymenochaetales
- Family: Hymenochaetaceae (Hymenochetes)
- Genus: Fomitiporia (Fomitiporia)
- Species: Fomitiporia robusta (False Tinder)
- Other names for the mushroom:
- Tinderpiper powerful
- Oak polypore
Synonyms:
Phellinus robustus
Tinderpiper is powerful;
Oak polypore;
- False oak polypore;
- Fomes robustus.
Oak polypore (Phellinus robustus) is a fungus of the Hymenochaetaceae family, belonging to the Felinus genus.
External description
The fruit body of this fungus is perennial, its length can be from 5 to 20 cm. At first it has the shape of a kidney, then it becomes spherical, resembling an influx. The tubular layer is convex, rounded, rusty brown, layered, with small pores. It is this layer that is the characteristic feature of this fungus. The fruit body grows sideways, it is thick, sessile, and has irregularities and concentric grooves on top. Radial cracks often appear on it. The color of the fruit body is gray-brown or black-gray, the edges are rounded, rusty-brown.
Yellowish spore powder.
The pulp of the mushroom is thick, tough, firm, woody, reddish-brown.
Season and habitat of the fungus
The oak polypore (Phellinus robustus) grows from early spring to late autumn. It is a parasite, feels good on the trunks of living trees (most often - oak trees). After the first stage of development, the fungus behaves like a saprotroph, it is more common - in groups or singly. Provokes the development of white rot. In addition to oaks, which it prefers, it can also develop on some other deciduous tree species. So, in addition to oak, it can grow on chestnut, hazel, maple, less often on acacia, willow and aspen, but its “main owner” is still an oak tree. It occurs throughout the year, can grow not only in forests, but also in the middle of park alleys, in coastal areas near ponds.
Edibility
It belongs to the category of inedible mushrooms.
Similar types and differences from them
Most mycologists consider tinder fungi as a group of fungi that grow mainly on the trunks of deciduous trees, including alder, aspen, birch, oak, ash. Most of these types of mushrooms are difficult to distinguish. The false oak tinder fungus belongs to the category of the original varieties and prefers to grow mainly on oak.
A similar species to it is the false aspen tinder fungus, whose fruit bodies are smaller in size, characterized by a gray-brown or dark gray surface.
The powerful tinder fungus is similar to another inedible species - the gartig tinder fungus. However, the fruit bodies of the latter grow completely to the surface of the wood and grow mainly on the trunks of coniferous trees (most often, fir).