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The fox tinder fungus is an inedible representative of the Hymenochetes family. It grows on dead hardwood, causing white rot on it. Despite the fact that this representative is not used in cooking, it is widely used in traditional medicine and cosmetology.
What does a fox tinder look like
The semi-prostrate fruit body has a wide convex base, 5-7 cm in diameter. Ribbed, velvety, with rounded, blunt edges, the surface is painted in bright orange. As it grows, the edges become sharper, bent to the top, and the surface becomes rusty-brown or brown. The mushroom is attached to the tree by the side surface. The leg is missing.
The pulp is soft, watery, becomes hard, fibrous, brown-brown in color with age. Reproduction occurs by microscopic spores, which are located in the tubular layer.
The mushroom got its name for its bright red color.
Where does the fox tinder grow
This inhabitant of the forest prefers to grow on rotten aspen wood. It can also be found on stumps, deadwood, fruit trees and building material. Grows in single specimens or forms a tiled family. It starts fruiting from May to September.
The fox tinder fungus is a parasite and saprotroph. Settling on a rotting tree, it destroys it, turns the soil into a nutrient substrate, which favorably affects the growth of young growth.
On building materials, infection can be recognized by a yellow-buff stripe separating it from a healthy area. If the fungus has settled on a fruit crop, then in order for it not to spread throughout the trunk, it must be cut off at the first stage of development, as it can lead to infection of white rot and death of the plant. If you are late with deliverance, then the fungus quickly spreads throughout the tree. Such a culture is not just cut down, but uprooted and burned.
Is it possible to eat tinder fox
This tree fungus is inedible, but not poisonous. Due to the tough, tasteless and non-aromatic pulp, the species is not used in cooking. But due to its beneficial qualities, the mushroom is widely used in medicine and cosmetology.
Medicinal properties and application
The fruit body contains a large amount of nutrients, so it is often used in folk medicine. This representative of the forest kingdom helps with the following diseases:
- obesity;
- constipation;
- dysbacteriosis;
- relieve depression;
- prevents the development of sepsis;
- saves from fever.
A young fruiting body is often used in cosmetology, for the preparation of face masks. Such cosmetic procedures smooth wrinkles, rejuvenate the skin, give it freshness, shine and new youth.
Contraindications to the use of fox tinder
Medicines prepared on the basis of fox tinder are contraindicated for allergy sufferers, pregnant and lactating women, as well as people with urolithiasis. With diarrhea, the tinder fungus is not used, since the fungus has a laxative effect.
Conclusion
The fox tinder fungus is an inedible representative of the mushroom kingdom. It grows throughout Our Country, on dead, less often living wood. At the same time, it becomes infected with white rot and begins to rapidly collapse. But, despite all the negative qualities, the fox tinder fungus is considered a forest orderly and is used to prepare medicinal decoctions and cosmetic masks.