Content
Lenzites birch is a representative of the Polyporaceae family, genus Lenzites. Latin name: Lenzites betulina. Also known as Lencites or Trametes birch. It is an annual parasitic fungus that, when settled on wood, causes white rot.
What Lenzites birch looks like
This mushroom grows in large groups
The fruiting body of this specimen is presented in the form of one cap without a stem. The cap is thin, semi-rosette-shaped with sharp edges, its size varies from 2 to 10 cm in diameter. The surface is covered with a velvety, hairy or felted edge, whitish in color when young, and gray or cream when mature. Divided into concentric zones with lighter edges, whitish, yellowish-ocher, grayish-brown or brown.Quite often, in old mushrooms, the pubescence is covered with multi-colored algae. On the underside of the cap there are plates that are strongly branched and intertwined with each other. At the initial stage of ripening, they are painted white, after some time they become light cream or yellow-ocher. The spores are cylindrical, thin-walled and colorless.
The pulp is thin, hard, leathery, elastic, almost cork-like in old mushrooms. It has a spicy aroma and unexpressed taste.
Where does birch lensites grow?
This species grows throughout the summer and autumn.
The fruiting bodies of this variety are annual. They are most often found in areas of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate climate. It prefers to settle on fallen birch trees, which is why it got its corresponding name. But besides this, the species in question also grows on dead wood of other deciduous trees, stumps and dead wood. The favorable time for fruiting is the period from June to November.
Is it possible to eat birch lensites?
This species is one of the inedible mushrooms. Despite the fact that it contains no toxic substances, birch lensites is not suitable for food due to its particularly hard pulp.
Conclusion
Lenzites birch is an annual parasitic fungus. You can meet it throughout the summer and autumn on stumps, dead wood, trunks or thick branches of deciduous trees, less often - coniferous trees.Due to its hard pulp, it is not suitable for food, but some mushroom pickers collect the fruits for medicinal purposes and prepare decoctions or alcohol tinctures.
