Content
The radiata polypore belongs to the Hymenochetaceae family, whose Latin name is Xanthoporia radiata. It is also known as radial rugose polypore. This specimen is an annual ossified fruiting body growing on deciduous wood, mainly alder.
Description of the radiant polypore
This specimen is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere
The fruiting body of this species is semi-sessile, attached sideways, consisting of only one cap. As a rule, the cap is round or semicircular in shape with a triangular cross-section, but on fallen trunks they can be prostrate. At a young age, the edges are rounded, gradually becoming curved, pointed or sinuous.The maximum size of the cap is 8 cm in diameter and no more than 3 cm in thickness.
At the initial stage of ripening, the surface is velvety or slightly pubescent; with age it becomes bare, shiny, radially wrinkled, and sometimes warty. Its color varies from yellow-brown to brown with concentric stripes. Old specimens can be distinguished by their almost black and radially cracked cap. The fruits are arranged tiledly or in rows, and quite often grow together in caps.
The tubular hymenophore is light yellow in color; as the mushroom matures, it becomes grayish-brown. It starts to darken when touched. Spore powder is white or yellowish in color. The pulp is colored reddish-brown with zonal striping. When young it is watery and soft, but as it ages it becomes very hard, dry and fibrous.
Where and how does it grow
The tinder fungus radiata grows most actively in the regions
Northern Hemisphere, which is characterized by a temperate climate. Most often this species is found in North America, western Europe and central Russia. It settles on weakened, dead or living deciduous trees, mainly on the trunks of gray or black alder, less often on birch, linden or aspen. It grows not only in forests, but also in city parks or gardens.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
This variety belongs to the category of inedible mushrooms.Despite the fact that the polypore radiata does not contain toxic substances, it is not suitable for food due to its hard and fibrous pulp.
Doubles and their differences
This species settles on deciduous wood, causing white rot on them.
In terms of external characteristics, the radiata tinder fungus is similar to the following forest gifts:
- Fox tinder - inedible specimen. It settles on dead or living aspens, causing yellow mixed rot on them. It differs from radiata in its hard granular core located inside the base of the mushroom, as well as in its hairy cap.
- Bristle-haired tinder fungus - belongs to the group of inedible mushrooms. A distinctive feature is the large size of the fruiting bodies. In addition, the double tends to settle on broad-leaved and fruit trees.
- Oak-loving tinder fungus – the main difference from the species in question is the more massive, rounded fruiting bodies. In addition, there is a hard granular core inside the base of the mushroom. It exclusively affects oak trees, infecting them with brown rot.
Conclusion
Polypore radiata is an annual parasitic fungus. It is most often found in the northern temperate zone on dead or dead deciduous trees. Due to the special hard pulp, it is not suitable for food.
