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The radiant polypore belongs to the Hymenochetes family, the Latin name of which is Xanthoporia radiata. It is also known as the radial wrinkle tinder fungus. This specimen is an annual ossified fruiting body growing on hardwood, mainly on alder.
Description of the radiant tinder fungus
This specimen is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
The fruit body of this species is semi-sessile, adnate sideways, consisting of only one cap. As a rule, the cap is round or semicircular in shape with a triangular section, but on fallen trunks it can be prostrate. At a young age, the edges are rounded, gradually becoming curved, pointed or sinuous. The maximum size of the cap in diameter is 8 cm, and the thickness is no more than 3 cm.
At the initial stage of maturation, the surface is velvety or slightly pubescent, with age it becomes bare, shiny, radially wrinkled, sometimes warty. Its color varies from yellow-brown to brown shades with concentric stripes. Old specimens can be distinguished by an almost black and radially cracked cap. The fruits are tiled or in rows, quite often grow together with caps.
The tubular hymenophore is light yellow in color, becoming grayish brown as the fungus matures. It darkens when touched. Spore powder white or yellowish. The flesh is colored in a reddish-brown tone with zonal striping. When young, it is watery and soft; as it ages, it becomes very hard, dry, and fibrous.
Where and how to grow
The most active tinder fungus grows in areas
Northern hemisphere, which is characterized by a temperate climate. Most often, this species is found in North America, Western Europe and central Our Country. It settles on weakened, dead or living deciduous trees, mainly on the trunks of gray or black alder, less often on birch, linden or aspen. It grows not only in forests, but also in city parks or gardens.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
This variety belongs to the category of inedible mushrooms. Despite the fact that the radiant tinder fungus does not contain toxic substances, it is not suitable for food because of the hard and fibrous pulp.
Twins and their differences
This species settles on hardwood, causing white rot on them.
By external signs, the radiant tinder fungus is similar to the following gifts of the forest:
- Trutovyk is bald – inedible copy. It settles on dead or live aspens, causing yellow mixed rot on them. It differs from the radiant in a hard granular core located inside the base of the fungus, as well as a hairy cap.
- Bristle-haired tinsel – belongs to the group of inedible mushrooms. A distinctive feature is the large size of the fruiting bodies. In addition, the twin tends to settle on broad-leaved and fruit trees.
- Tinder fungus – the main difference from the species under consideration is more massive, rounded fruiting bodies. In addition, there is a hard granular core inside the base of the fungus. It affects exclusively oaks, infecting them with brown rot.
Conclusion
The radiant polypore is an annual parasitic fungus. It is most commonly found in the northern temperate zone on dead or dead hardwood trees. Due to the special hard pulp, it is not suitable for food.