Tuberous fungus (Polyporus tuberaster) photo and description

Tuberous fungus (Polyporus tuberaster)

Hat: the cap has a rounded shape, somewhat depressed in the central part. The diameter of the cap is from 5 to 15 cm. Under favorable conditions, the cap can reach 20 cm in diameter. The surface of the cap has a reddish-yellow color. The entire surface of the cap, especially densely in the central part, is covered with densely pressed small brown scales. These scales form a symmetrical pattern on the cap. In mature mushrooms, this embossed pattern may not be very noticeable.

Pulp in the cap is very elastic, rubbery, whitish. In damp weather, the flesh becomes watery. It has a light pleasant aroma and does not have a special taste.

Tubular layer: the descending tubular layer has a radial pattern formed by elongated pores. The pores are not frequent, rather large, and if we take into account the usual characteristics of other tinder fungi, then the pores are simply huge.

Spore Powder: white.

Leg: a cylindrical stem, as a rule, is located in the center of the cap. At the base, the stalk widens slightly, often curved. The length of the leg is up to 7 cm. Sometimes the leg is up to 10 cm long. The thickness of the leg is not more than 1,5 cm. The surface of the legs is reddish-brown. The flesh in the leg is very hard, fibrous. The main feature of this fungus is that at the base of the stem you can very often find strong cords that fix the fungus in a woody substrate, that is, on a stump.

Tuberous Trutovik occurs from the end of spring throughout the summer period and until about mid-September. It grows on the remains of deciduous trees. Prefers linden and other similar breeds.

The main distinguishing feature of Trutovik is its large pores and central leg. You can also identify Trutovik tuberous by the small size of its fruiting bodies. According to the fruiting bodies, the Tuberous Trutovik is distinguished from the Scaly Trutovik close to it. The symmetrical scaly pattern on the cap distinguishes it from the finely porous, almost smooth Variable Tinder fungus. However, the genus Polyporus includes many species, so you can certainly find a huge variety of similar mushrooms.

Tuberous tinder fungus is considered an edible mushroom, but only as far as it is not bitter and not poisonous. Perhaps it can even be cooked somehow, so that the person did not guess that he was trying to eat Trutovik.