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The pitted tinder fungus, also known as pitted polyporus, is a member of the Polypore family, the genus Sawfly. In addition to these names, it also has others: polyporus or box-shaped tinder fungus, decorated polyporus, vase-like tinder fungus, vaulted tinder fungus.
Description of tinder fungus
The mushroom has no pronounced taste
This specimen is a small-sized fruiting body in the form of a cap and a leg. A distinctive feature is that the surface is covered with small hairs and scales. Cream colored spore powder.
Spores are cylindrical, smooth. The flesh is white or cream in color, thin and rather hard. When ripe, the color remains unchanged. Exudes a slight mushroom aroma. Some reference books indicate that the smell is not pronounced.
Cap Description
There are no poisonous twins in the tinder fungus
The size of the cap varies from 1 to 4 cm, very rarely up to 8 cm. It is painted in shades of brown. At the initial stage of maturation, it is convex, after which it acquires a flat shape or slightly depressed. The surface is dry, covered with small scales and hairs of a golden brown tone. Hymenophore descending, porous, white at a young age, then gradually turns brown. The pores are radial, angular or hexagonal, with thin, finely serrated edges; their diameter is no more than 2 mm.
Description of the leg
The leg can be located centrally or slightly shifted
Casket-shaped polyporus has a smooth, dry stem up to 6 cm long and up to 4 mm wide. The color may be the same as the hat or slightly different. In any case, its color varies from yellow to brown. The surface is covered with small hairs and scales.
Where and how to grow
Pitted polyporus is a fairly common variety that can be found in almost every corner of the world. It grows exclusively on hardwoods, causing white rot. Active fruiting occurs in spring and summer. It occurs both singly and in groups.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The mushroom belongs to the category of conditionally edible mushrooms. Some sources attribute this species to inedible due to a particularly thin hat and stiff legs in adulthood. However, experts agree that this specimen does not contain toxic substances. The species in question is known to be considered edible in Hong Kong, Nepal, New Guinea, and Peru.
Twins and their differences
The tinder fungus has external similarities with the following gifts of the forest:
- Polypore is changeable – inedible copy. It is similar to the mushroom in question with small fruiting bodies. So, the size of the double cap is no more than 5 cm in diameter. However, it is possible to distinguish the tinder fungus from the pitted one by the smooth surface of the cap and the leg of a darker color.
- Trutovik mesh – refers to inedible mushrooms. The fruit body has a fan-shaped, oval or semicircular shape. A distinctive feature is a barely noticeable leg, since its length is no more than 1 cm.
- Tinder fungus winter – inedible. As a rule, the fruiting body of the twin is slightly larger. In addition, the color of the fruit is much darker.
The use of pitted tinder
As you know, many tinder fungi are used in homeopathy and for the manufacture of dietary supplements. This number includes this type of fungus.
Conclusion
Pitted polypore is a small mushroom that can be found on trees in deciduous or mixed forests. As for edibility, this issue is rather controversial: some reference books attribute to it the category of conditionally edible mushrooms, others – inedible. However, judging by the small size of the fruiting bodies and the unexpressed taste, it should be assumed that this species has no nutritional value.
