Trihaptum double: photo and description

Trihaptum biforme (Trichaptum biforme) is a mushroom from the Polypore family, belonging to the genus Trihaptum. It is considered a widespread species. Grows on fallen deciduous trees and stumps. Causes the appearance of white rot, accelerating the process of destruction of wood.

What does trihaptum double look like

The mushroom consists of numerous caps forming a semicircular tiled group. Hat diameter – up to 6 cm, thickness – up to 3 mm. In young specimens, the surface is pubescent, resembling felt, with time it becomes smooth, silky. The color of the cap can be brownish-green, ocher, light gray. In some representatives, the outer edge has a light purple color. If the weather is dry, sunny, the surface fades, becoming whitish.

The cap has concentric banding.

In fruiting bodies, the color of the hymenophore is purple-violet. There is an increase in color along the edges. When damaged, the color does not change. In older specimens, the lower part of the cap fades, becoming brownish-yellow or brown.

The mushroom has no stem.

The inside is hard, painted in a light, almost white shade.

The color of the spore powder is white.

Where and how to grow

This representative of the mushroom kingdom belongs to saprotrophs, therefore it grows on deadwood and stumps. Prefers deciduous trees. Most often, the birch trihaptum chooses birch, but it can also be found on alder, aspen, hornbeam, beech, oak. It practically does not grow on coniferous species.

The distribution area of ​​mushrooms is very wide. In Our Country, they are found everywhere: from the European part to the Far East. They prefer a temperate climate, grow very rarely in the tropics.

The appearance of trihaptum double is accompanied by white rot on the wood. This leads to its rapid destruction.

Fruiting from July to October.

Is the mushroom edible or not?

Trihaptum bipartite is classified as inedible specimens. Its pulp is too tough, has no nutritional value, so mushroom families are not collected and used for cooking.

Twins and their differences

Trihaptum binos has several similar varieties. It is very easy to confuse them if you do not know some features of growth and structure. Twins can be:

1. Trihaptum spruce – a smaller representative of the mushroom kingdom, growing in rows or groups on coniferous trees. The caps of this subspecies are monophonic, gray in color. The pubescence on them is more noticeable than in the double representative. The purple color of the hymenophore is well pronounced and persists for a long time.

   

2. Brown purple varietyb (Trichaptum fuscoviolaceum) also resembles a double species.
   Important! The main difference is the place of growth.

   This species is found only on conifers. It can be recognized by the hymenophore, formed in the form of radially diverging teeth, which at the edges are transformed into serrated plates.

   

3. larch subspecies has a slight pubescence and a light gray, whitish cap color. Found in coniferous forests, prefers larch. It can also be found on other representatives of conifers. The hymenophore is formed from wide plates. Due to the rigidity of the fruiting body, it is unsuitable for use in food.
   Attention! Classified as inedible.

   

Conclusion

Trihaptum double – an inedible representative of the mushroom kingdom, ubiquitous. Selects fallen trees and hardwood stumps for growth. It has several inedible twins, differing in habitat and external signs. The fungus provokes the appearance of white rot, which destroys the wood.