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Bjerkandera scorched is a member of the Meruliaceae family, whose Latin name is bjerkandera adusta. Also known as scorched tinder fungus. This mushroom is one of the most common throughout the world. During the ripening process it forms beautiful growths.
Where does Björkandera scorched grow?
The fruits of the Bjerkandera body are annual and can be found throughout the year. They grow on old stumps, dead wood or dead wood. Such barely noticeable growths on a tree can be found not only in the forest belt, but also within the city or even on a personal plot. They settle on old or almost dead trees, causing white rot, which provokes decomposition and death of the wood.
What does a scorched Bjerkandera look like?
This species is distinguished by a rather thin hymenophore layer
At the initial stage of its development, the fruiting body of scorched Bjorkandera is presented as a whitish sinter formation on dead wood. Quite quickly, the central part begins to darken, the edges bend back and the mushroom takes on a shapeless cantilever-like outline. The so-called leathery caps reach 2-5 cm in diameter and about 5 mm in thickness. In most cases, the fruits grow together. The surface is felt, pubescent, initially white, later acquiring gray-brown shades, due to which it begins to live up to its name.
The hymenophore is presented in the form of small pores, separated from the sterile part by a noticeable thin stripe. It is painted in an ashen color, becoming almost black as it ages. The spore powder is whitish.
The pulp is leathery, hard, gray in color.
Is it possible to eat scorched Bjorkandera?
Although some sources classify this specimen as an edible mushroom, this information is unreliable.
Due to the hard pulp, this fruiting body is not eaten. Most sources classify the mushroom as an inedible forest gift, so mushroom pickers avoid it.
Similar species
The fruiting body is very variable, it radically changes shape and color throughout its life
In terms of external characteristics, the described mushroom is similar to the smoky biekandera. This specimen is also inedible. It differs from the scorched one with a thicker cap, the diameter of which is about 12 cm and the thickness is about 2 cm.
The surface of the fruiting body at a young age is colored yellowish, and as it matures it acquires brown shades.
Conclusion
Berkandera scorched is widespread throughout the continent, and therefore this gift of the forest is actually known to almost every mushroom picker. They call it scorched because during development the edges of the cap turn from white to gray-brown and look as if they were burned.
