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Polypores are fungi that grow on the trunks and skeletal branches of living and dead trees, as well as in their roots. They are similar in the structure of fruiting bodies, type of nutrition, methods of reproduction, but belong to different orders, families. The name combines many varieties that are saprotrophs on dead wood and parasites on living wood. The photos of the tinder fungus presented in the article demonstrate an amazing variety of colors, sizes and shapes.
Tinder real
What does a tinder fungus look like
The external appearance of polypore fungi is very diverse. In size, they can be from a few millimeters to 100 cm in diameter, weighing from a few grams to 20 kg. Fruiting bodies may consist of a single cap, the edge of which is attached to the substrate, or have a leg – complete or rudimentary. In shape, the caps can be prostrate, prostrate-bent, hoof-shaped, cantilever-shaped, fan-shaped, spherical, nodular, shelf-shaped, shell-shaped bent, disc-shaped.
Depending on the species and age, the thickness of the hats varies. Their surface can be smooth, bumpy, wrinkled, velvety, fleecy, matte or glossy, crusted or skinned.
Trutovik larch hoof-shaped
Algae or moss often settle on the surface of the hats. Colors can be muted, pastel or bright. The core is called cloth or trama. She may be:
- soft – waxy, fleshy, subgelatinous, fibrous, spongy;
- tough – leathery, cork, woody.
Sometimes the fabric is two-layer, consists of soft and hard layers. Its structure may change during the development of the fungus. The color of the tram varies from white, gray, beige, yellow, brown, brownish, pinkish tones. The hymenophore of polypore fungi can be of different types:
- tubular;
- labyrinthine;
- lamellar;
- toothed;
- spiny.
Hymenophore types of polypore fungi
In perennial species, with age or under the influence of the environment, an age-related transformation of one type of hymenophore into another is observed. The pores can be regular and irregular in shape, the same size and different sizes. Spores vary from cylindrical to spherical, painted in whitish, grayish colors.
Where does the tinder fungus grow
Tinder fungi grow in any part of the planet Earth where there are trees. They settle on different parts of living and cut down trees, processed wood – timber, wooden structures.
They can be found in forests, gardens, parks, suburban areas and cities. Few tinder fungi live on living trees: most members of the genus prefer dead wood. The habitat of tinder fungus covers temperate and tropical regions, but there are also varieties that live in more severe climatic conditions.
Tinder fungus features
Among tinder fungi, both annual and perennial varieties are found. They are divided into 3 categories:
- Annualsdeveloping during one growing season. The life span of such tinder fungi does not exceed 4 months, with the onset of winter they die.
- Annual wintering – tolerate winter well and resume reproduction of spores in the next season.
- Perennial – living 2-4 years or 30-40 years and annually building up a new layer of hymenophore.
Polypore mushrooms are not “omnivorous”, they are characterized by specialization in tree species. There are very few highly specialized varieties among them, most are focused on a certain type of wood, for example, coniferous or broad-leaved species. In each locality, a certain polypore fungus affects 1-2 tree species.
The structure of the tinder fungus
The tinder fungus consists of a mycelium and a fruiting body. The mycelium develops inside the woody body, spreading along the entire length. Before the formation of fruiting bodies, the fungus does not betray its presence in any way. Polypore fungi grow slowly, first forming tubercles or flat spots on the surface. Then they gradually increase in size, acquire the shape inherent in this species.
Trutovik in a section: the hymenophore, tissue, crust are clearly visible
The fruiting body of a tree fungus is formed by the interweaving of many hyphae threads of various lengths and thicknesses. The hyphae system of tinder fungi can be:
- monomitic – consisting only of generative hyphae;
- dimitic – formed by generative and skeletal or connecting hyphae;
- trimetic – formed by generative, skeletal and connecting hyphae.
Many species of tinder fungi are characterized by the annual reproduction of a new hymenophore with a gradual overgrowth of the old hyphae. In this case, the body of the fungus is formed by annual ridges, by which its age can be determined.
The development of the fungus is influenced by climatic conditions and the location of the substrate. Favorable weather stimulates their rapid growth and proper development. The main role here is played by the level of humidity. With its sufficient amount, the fruiting bodies become darker, acquire a contrast of colors. In dry weather, on the contrary, they brighten, become thinner, dry, the pores are smoothed and tightened. For this reason, the fungus can form several layers of hymenophore in one season.
Type of food tinder fungus
All polypore fungi feed on wood. They have the ability to decompose the cellulose and lingin they need, for which their mycelium or hyphae produce the appropriate enzymes. Depending on their composition, various types of rot appear on the wood: white, brown, red, variegated, soft. The wood changes color, becomes brittle, stratifies parallel to annual rings, loses volume and mass. If a tinder fungus has settled on an old, diseased, dry plant, it acts as a forest orderly, accelerating the transformation of the latter into soil. If the host tree is young and healthy, the polypore fungus parasitizes on it and destroys it within 5-10 years.
Heartwood sapwood rot caused by tinder fungus
How does the tinder fungus reproduce
Polypores reproduce by spores, infection occurs by air. Spores enter deep into the tree trunk through damage to the bark, formed as a result of exposure to severe frosts and winds, damage by animals, and human activities. There they attach, germinate with mycelium, which gradually grows, destroying the tree from the inside. The fruit bodies are the small, visible part of the fungus. Most of it is inside the trunk. With this method of reproduction and development, it is impossible to detect a tinder fungus at an early stage. It imperceptibly grows in the core of the tree and manifests itself as a fruiting body even when the plant is almost impossible to save.
Types of tinder
Polypore fungi belong to the class Basidiomycetes, a subclass of Holobasidiomycetes, in which several families are distinguished:
- Fistulinic (Fistulinaceae) – are included in the Agarikov order, they combine saprophytic fungi with fruiting bodies in the form of a shelf. A striking representative of the family is the so-called liver fungus (Fistulina hepatica) – an edible variety of tinder fungus.
Common liverwort
- Amylocorticium (Amylocorticiaceae) – representatives of the Boletaceae order, form flat fruiting bodies. These include amylocorticium fragrant and flesh-pink, small-spore and creeping ceraceomyces, plicaturopsis.
Plicaturopsis curly
- Hymenochetes (Hymenochaetales) – combines inedible species of tree-dwelling mushrooms. Annual and perennial fruiting bodies are yellowish-brown, dark gray, have a hard cork or woody tramam. Includes the genera Phellinus, Inonotus, Pseudoinontus, Mensularia, Onnia, Coltricia.
Inonotus bristle-haired
- Schizoporous (Schizoporaceae) – includes 14 genera and 109 species. Fruiting bodies are annual and perennial, prostrate or prostrate-bent, repeating the configuration of the substrate, painted white or brownish, flat, adherent, growing on the underside of dead wood. The hymenophore is smooth or cracked, with rounded or irregularly shaped pores, sometimes with teeth.
Schizopora strange
- Albatrellaceae (Albatrellaceae) – edible tinder fungi, included in the order Russula (Russulales). Fruiting bodies are annuals, consisting of a flat-depressed cap, whitish, yellowish or brownish in color and a short, thin cylindrical stem. They grow under coniferous trees, form mycorrhiza with them. Only young mushrooms are eaten.
Albatrellus comb
- Polyporous (Polyporaceae) – form regimental growths on trees. The flesh is often soft when young, becoming very hard with time. The hymenophore is tubular or labyrinthine. Includes edible and non-edible mushrooms.
Daedaleopsis tricolor
- Phanerochets (Phanerochaetacaeae) – form crusty or tongue-shaped prostrate fruiting bodies up to 15 cm in diameter and up to 1,5 cm thick, often forming a kind of “whatnots” on the bark. The hymenophore is spiny. The flesh is thin, leathery or fibrous, inedible.
Irpex milky white
- Meruliaceae (Meruliaceae) – fruiting bodies spread over the substrate or ascending, annual, soft. Some species form a well-developed hat. The surface of the fungus is smooth or pubescent, painted in whitish or brownish tones. The hymenophore can be smooth, spiny, or folded.
Gleoporus yew
- Fomitopsis (Fomitopsidaceae) – perennial fruit bodies sessile or prostrate, often hoof-shaped, massive. The fabric is leathery, woody or cork, the hymenophore is tubular, layered. Annual mushrooms are often bushy, multi-capped, edible.
oak sponge
- Ganoderma (Ganoderma) – includes 2 types of mushrooms: with a matte and oily-shiny surface. Fruiting bodies are cap or cap-shaped, have a cork or woody structure.
Polypore lacquered (reishi mushroom)
- Gleophyllic (Gleophillum) – forms annual or perennial fruiting bodies in the form of a horseshoe or rosette. The surface of the fungus can be smooth or fleecy, painted brown or gray. Hymenophore – tubular, labyrinth-shaped or lamellar.
Stereo
The classification of tinder fungi by mycologists demonstrates significant disagreement. The same mushrooms in different researchers may belong to different groups.
Are tinder fungi edible
While picking mushrooms, many people bypass the tinder fungus, not knowing for sure whether they are poisonous or not. In a large genus of tinder fungi, there are both edible and inedible mushrooms. Edible ones are eaten at a young age, when they have tender flesh and good taste. Some species grow on tree trunks singly or in small groups (sulfur-yellow, lacquered and scaly tinder fungus, liverwort), others form branched multi-capped fruit bodies in tree roots or in place of recently collapsed stumps (giant meripilus, umbrella polyporus, gryfolistvennaya). Inedible, woody mushrooms are unsuitable for human consumption, but they are used in folk medicine, pharmacology, and cosmetology. There are no poisonous varieties among the tinder fungi, but they can cause allergic reactions.
Trutovik scaly, edible
When to collect tinder fungus
Polypore fungi should be collected in spring, with the beginning of sap flow, and in autumn, when they, having prepared for wintering, stocked up on useful substances. When harvesting medicinal raw materials, preference should be given to specimens growing at high altitude. Cork tinder fungi can be cut with a knife, woody mushrooms require a lot of effort and the use of an ax or saw. If the mushroom crumbles, it means that it is overripe and has lost its beneficial properties. The bushy, edible varieties that grow at the bases of trees are best harvested when young, cutting out the entire group.
Why is the fungus called tinder fungus
The name comes from ancient times. Once upon a time, before the invention of matches, a fire starter was used to make a fire, consisting of flint, flint and tinder. With the help of flint and flint, a spark was struck, which was supposed to fall on tinder – a flammable material. Then, with the burning tinder, they kindled hard wood. A piece of cloth or cotton wool, dry moss, tree bark and tree-dwelling fungi of a loose, cork structure were used as tinder. Due to the ability to serve as tinder, these mushrooms were called tinder fungi.
A piece of tinder fungus and a steel
Conclusion
Looking at the photo of the tinder fungus, you can endlessly be surprised at the variety of manifestations of wildlife. This organism is the most important participant in the forest biocenosis, playing both a positive and a negative role in it. Destroying dead wood, tinder fungi contribute to its rapid decomposition and transformation into a nutrient substrate for other plants. At the same time, they harm forestry. Feeding on the juices of healthy plants, parasitic fungi lead to their death. And a person, being interested in the preservation of the forest, can influence the life of tinder fungi, limit their spread.
Photo of tinder mushrooms
Due to the large species diversity, it is impossible to provide photos and descriptions of all edible and inedible tinder fungi. Many wildlife lovers consider these representatives of the mushroom kingdom to be very beautiful. The photos of tinder fungi with names proposed below make it possible to verify this and, perhaps, will cause a desire to get to know this kingdom better.
Fungus
birch sponge
Tritovik sulfuric yellow
Meripilus giant
Polyporus umbrella
Grifola deciduous (mushroom-ram)
Climacodon is the most beautiful
Trutovyk is bald
Sukhlyanka biennial
