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Trametes ocher is a representative of the Polyporaceae family. It is an annual mushroom, in rare cases overwintering. This type does not contain toxic substances, does not have an unpleasant odor or bitter taste. However, due to their fibrous and hard flesh, these mushrooms are classified as inedible.
What does ocher trametes look like?
Trametes ocher is capable of causing white rot
The fruiting body is presented in the form of a small fan-shaped or shell-shaped cap with a narrowed base and a noticeable tubercle. In some cases, the fungus grows in the form of rosettes. The size of the cap in diameter varies from 1.5 to 5 cm. At a young age, the edge is rounded, over time it becomes pointed, slightly curved downwards. The surface is concentrically zonal, matte or velvety, with some pubescence.The stripes look slightly blurred, colored in shades of gray, ocher and brown. As a rule, the darkest color occurs at the base of the ocher tramethes, especially if there is pronounced striping. On the cap you can find an alternation of pubescent and non-pubescent stripes. The underside of the fruiting body at a young age is colored milky white or cream; in dried specimens it acquires a brown tint. The structure is porous, hard-fibrous, the pores are round, sometimes elongated. The spores are curved-cylindrical, non-amyloid, smooth. Spore powder is white. The fabric is dense, leathery, cork, white or cream in color, up to 5 mm thick. When it comes to smell, experts are divided. So, some sources talk about an inexpressive aroma. Other reference books describe a sour smell reminiscent of freshly caught fish.
Where and how does it grow
Usually grows in groups, on dead wood and dead wood of deciduous trees. It can settle on treated wood, which is why ocher tramethes is sometimes found in buildings as a house mushroom.
This species is quite common in the eastern part of Russia, as well as in Western Europe, North America and Asia. Fruiting occurs in summer and autumn. Since the decomposition process of these mushrooms takes a long time, Trametes ocher can be seen throughout the year.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Trametes ocher belongs to the category of inedible forest gifts. Due to its inherent hardness, it has no nutritional value.
Doubles and their differences
Trametes ocher has no distinct odor
Trametes ocher is quite easy to confuse with some representatives of the Polyporaceae family.The following specimens of the genus Trametes can be classified as doubles:
- Multicolored - perennial tinder fungus. The fruit body reaches up to 8 cm in length and up to 5 cm in width. The cap has a variegated coloring, where stripes of white, gray, black and brown shades are concentrated. It has a rather bright appearance, making this specimen easily distinguishable. In addition, the spores of the double are much smaller, and there is also no tubercle at the base, which is characteristic of the species in question.
Important! In some countries and even regions of Russia, this specimen is known for its medicinal properties. Despite the fact that this species is inedible, it is included in various medicinal ointments, creams and tinctures.
The fruiting body of Trametes versicolor contains a special polysaccharide, coriolane, which actively fights cancer cells.
- Coarse-haired - an inedible tinder fungus, which is distinguished by a hard pile on the surface of the cap, even bristly. The double tends to be located not only on dead wood, but also on living trees. Mainly preference is given to rowan, oak, willow, spruce, bird cherry, birch, fir and many others.
- Fluffy – is a fleecy annual and wintering mushroom. The color of the fruiting body is white and yellowish. The favorite place of growth is birch. This specimen, like the multicolored tinder fungus, is included in various drugs to combat cancer, improve cellular and tissue metabolism, and much more.
The fluffy polypore belongs to the inedible gifts of the forest due to the special hardness of the pulp and its characteristic pronounced odor, reminiscent of anise
What properties does ocher tramethes have?
Some species of the Trametes genus are endowed with medicinal properties that are used for medical purposes. One of the most common is the multi-colored trametes. This specimen is part of various drugs that help fight cancer at any stage. In addition, this mushroom is used to treat the following types of diseases:
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- herpes;
- hepatitis:
- pulmonary diseases;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
This is not a complete list of diseases that this fungus can overcome. It is worth noting that all of the above medicinal properties are attributed to Trametes ocher’s relative – the variegated one. The species in question has no medicinal properties; therefore, it is not applicable in medicine. Also, the ocher tinder fungus is not used in cooking due to the rigidity of the fruiting bodies.
Conclusion
Trametes ocher is a widespread species not only in Russia, but also abroad. It is found very often on stumps, branches, dying trunks of deciduous trees, and less often on coniferous trees.
