Content
Trihaptum spruce is an inedible representative of the Polyporaceae family. Grows on moistened dead, fallen coniferous wood. By destroying a tree, the fungus thereby clears the forest of dead wood, turning it into dust and enriching the soil with nutrients.
What Trihaptum spruce looks like
The fruit body is formed by a flat cap with bent edges. It is attached to the wood by the side surface. The mushroom has a semicircular or fan-shaped shape. The velvety surface is painted in gray tones with purple edges. In humid weather, due to the accumulation of algae, the color changes to light olive. With age, the fruit body becomes discolored and the edges turn inward.
The bottom layer is painted in a soft purple color, as it grows it becomes dark purple. The pulp is whitish, rubbery, hard, and does not change color when mechanically damaged. Trihaptum spruce reproduces by microscopic cylindrical spores, which are located in a snow-white powder.
The mushroom grows on dry spruce wood
Where and how does it grow
Trihaptum spruce prefers to grow on rotten, dry coniferous wood in the Northern and Central parts of Russia, Siberia and the Urals.It grows everywhere, forming parasitic growths on the tree that lead to the appearance of brown rot. The fungus harms forestry, destroying harvested timber and building materials. But, despite this, this representative is a forest orderly. By destroying and turning rotten wood into dust, it enriches the soil with humus and makes it more fertile.
Trihaptum spruce bears fruit from spring to late autumn. The development of the fruiting body begins with the appearance of a brown or yellowish spot. Next, light brown oblong-shaped inclusions appear in this place. After 30-40 days, the inclusions are filled with a whitish substance, forming voids.
In the place of active growth of the fruiting body, the tree is destroyed, which is accompanied by abundant tarting. The fungus continues its development until the wood is completely destroyed.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Trihaptum spruce is an inedible forest inhabitant. Due to its hard, rubbery pulp and lack of taste and smell, it is not used in cooking.
Doubles and their differences
Trihaptum spruce, like any representative of the mushroom kingdom, has similar counterparts. Such as:
- Larch – an inedible species, grows in the taiga, prefers to settle on rotten, dry coniferous trees and stumps. The fruit body is prostrate, the cap is 7 cm in diameter and has the shape of a shell. The grayish surface has a silky, smooth skin. Most often it grows as an annual plant, but biennial specimens are also found.
Due to its rubbery pulp, this species is not used in cooking.
- Brown-violet - an inedible annual specimen.Grows on dead, damp wood of coniferous forests. When infected, it causes white rot. The fruiting body is located in single specimens or form imbricated families. The surface is velvety, painted light lilac with brown uneven edges. In wet weather it becomes covered with algae. The pulp is bright purple, becoming yellow-brown as it dries. Fruits from May to November.
The mushroom is inedible, but due to its beautiful surface it is suitable for a photo shoot
- Double - inedible forest dweller. Grows as a saprophyte on stumps and fallen deciduous trees. The species is distributed throughout Russia, growing from May to November. The mushroom appears in imbricate groups; the cap, 6 cm in diameter, is fan-shaped. The surface is smooth, velvety, light gray, coffee or ocher in color. In dry weather the cap becomes discolored; in wet weather it turns olive green. The pulp is hard, rubbery, whitish.
The mushroom has a beautiful shell-shaped surface
Conclusion
Trihaptum spruce prefers to grow on dead coniferous wood, causing brown rot on it. This type causes great damage to building materials; if storage rules are not followed, it quickly collapses and becomes unsuitable for construction. It grows from May to November; due to its hard, tasteless pulp, it is not used for cooking.
