Contents
Grape Phellinus (Phellinus viticola) is a tree fungus of the Basidiomycetes class, belonging to the Hymenochetes family and the Phellinus genus. It was first described by Ludwig von Schweinitz, and the fruiting body received its modern classification thanks to the Dutchman Marinus Donk in 1966. Its other scientific names: Polyporus viticola Schwein, from 1828.
What does fellinus grape look like?
The fruit body deprived of a leg is attached to the substrate with the side of the cap. The shape is narrow, elongated, slightly wavy, irregularly broken, up to 5-7 cm wide and 0,8-1,8 cm thick. In young mushrooms, the surface is covered with short hairs, velvety to the touch. As it develops, the cap loses its pubescence, becomes rough, unevenly bumpy, varnish-shiny, like dark amber or honey. The color is red-brown, brick, chocolate. The edge is bright orange or ocher, fleecy, rounded.
The pulp is dense, not more than 0,5 cm in thickness, porous-hard, woody, chestnut or yellowish-red. The hymenophore is lighter, finely porous, beige, milky or brownish in color. Uneven, with angular pores, often descends over the surface of the tree, occupying a significant area. The tubes reach a thickness of 1 cm.
The porous hymenophore is covered with a white downy coating.
Where does fellinus vine grow?
Phellinus grape is a cosmopolitan mushroom and is found everywhere in the northern and temperate latitudes. It grows in the Urals and in the Siberian taiga, in the Leningrad region and in the Far East. Inhabits deadwood and fallen spruce trunks. Sometimes it can be seen on other conifers: pine, fir, cedar.
Separate fruiting bodies are able to grow together into single large organisms.
Is it possible to eat fellinus grape
Fruiting bodies are classified as inedible. Their flesh is corky, tasteless-bitter. The nutritional value tends to zero. Studies on the content of toxic substances have not been carried out.
Small mushroom buttons grow very quickly over the surface of the tree into intricately curved ribbons and spots.
Conclusion
Phellinus grape is widely distributed in Our Country, Europe, and North America. It lives in coniferous or mixed forests. Settles on dead wood of pine, spruce, fir, cedar, quickly destroying it. It is a perennial, so you can see it in any season. Inedible, no toxicity data available.
