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The bordered polypore is a bright saprophyte mushroom with an unusual color in the form of colored rings. Other names used in the scientific literature are pine polypore and, more rarely, wood sponge.In Latin the mushroom is called Fomitopsis pinicola.
Description of the bordered tinder fungus
The bordered polypore has a sessile fruiting body attached to the tree bark. The shape of a young mushroom is a semicircle or circle; older specimens become cushion-shaped. The leg is missing.
The perennial fruiting body of the bordered tinder fungus, as shown in the photo, is divided into several colored zones in the form of semicircles.
At the border of each circle, small depressions can be distinguished
Old areas of the fruiting body are colored bluish, gray or black, new areas growing on the outside are orange, yellow or red.
The pulp of the bordered tinder fungus is rough, hard, spongy, and with age it becomes corky and woody. At the break it is light yellow or beige, in overripe specimens it is dark brown.
The reverse side of the fruiting body (hymenophore) is creamy, beige, tubular in structure. When damaged, the surface darkens.
The skin of the mushroom is matte, velvety; with high air humidity, droplets of liquid appear on it
The size of the cap ranges from 10 to 30 cm in width, the height of the fruiting body does not exceed 10 cm.
The spores are spherical, oblong, colorless. The spore powder may be white, yellowish or cream-colored. If the weather is dry and warm, sporulation is abundant, traces of spore powder can be seen below the fruiting body.
Where and how does it grow
The fringed polypore (fomitopsis pinicola) grows in temperate climates and is widespread in Russia. The fungus grows on stumps, fallen trees, and can also be found on dead wood. It selects both deciduous and coniferous trees, affecting sick and weakened units.Growing on trunks, bordered tinder fungus provokes the appearance of brown rot.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
It is eaten, but as a mushroom seasoning, since the fruit body immediately hardens after collection. Saprophyte does not cause poisoning.
Doubles and their differences
The bordered polypore has a bright, recognizable color; it is difficult to confuse it with other representatives of the species.
Somewhat similar to the mushroom described - the tinder fungus is real. The shape and habitats of these representatives of the species are identical.
The only difference is the light gray, smoky color of the true tinder fungus; it is classified as an inedible species
The benefits and harms of edged tinder fungus in nature
The described mushroom can cause irreparable harm. But in folk medicine it is considered a useful component of many potions.
How dangerous are pine tinder fungi for trees?
Developing under the bark of a tree, the mycelium of wood sponge causes the appearance of brown rot. This disease completely destroys deciduous or coniferous crops, turning their trunks into dust.
In the northern regions of Russia, during logging, the pine tinder fungus destroys wood in warehouses. There they are fighting a serious battle with him. The fungus is also dangerous for wooden buildings made of treated wood.
In all regions of the country, the bordered tinder fungus causes damage to forestry and parks.
The role of edged polypores in the ecosystem
An important natural process is the decay and decomposition of wood. The mushroom acts as a forest orderly, decomposing sick, outdated trees. Also, the fringed tinder fungus is involved in the process of destroying flax processing residues.
Wood sponge destroys organic residues, turning them into mineral fertilizers, increasing the quality and fertility of the soil.Cultivated and forest plants receive more nutrients during growth.
Medicinal properties of pine tinder fungus
The mushroom is used in folk medicine. It is believed to have medicinal properties.
Some of them:
- hemostatic effect;
- anti-inflammatory properties;
- normalization of metabolism;
- increasing immunity;
- treatment of the genitourinary system;
- removing toxins from the body.
Thanks to the last of these properties, tinder fungus is used as part of antidote.
The fruiting body of the mushroom also contains substances called lanophiles. Their use is considered effective for restoring damaged liver. They encourage the diseased organ to secrete enzymes that break down fat and other difficult-to-digest substances, which helps restore normal metabolic processes in the body.
The use of edged polypores in folk medicine
Wood sponge is collected starting in August.
Unripe, young fruiting bodies have the greatest medicinal value
To prepare medicines based on tinder fungus, it is dried and ground into powder.
To treat prostate adenoma, a dangerous male disease that provokes the development of cancer, a decoction is prepared.
Mix half a liter of water and 2 tbsp in a saucepan. l. mushroom powder from tinder fungus. Place the container on the fire and bring to a boil. Boil the medicine for an hour over low heat. Then cool and filter.
Take 200 ml decoction in the morning and evening
Take 200 ml decoction in the morning and evening
The medicinal properties of pine polypore infused with vodka are especially pronounced. The mushroom is prepared soon after collection, as it tends to harden quickly.
Preparation:
- A fresh, just picked mushroom is washed and the skin is removed - it tastes bitter.
- 1 or 2 fruiting bodies are crushed in a blender to a puree.
- The gruel (3 tbsp) is transferred to a bottle with dark glass and filled with vodka (0.5 l), closed tightly.
- Infuse the product for 1.5 months at room temperature in a dark place.
The pre-strained, ready-made infusion (1 tablespoon) is diluted with 125 ml of boiled water and taken twice a day.
Alcohol tincture will strengthen the immune system, speed up metabolism, and promote weight loss.
For a general strengthening effect, take an aqueous tincture of tinder fungus. For preparation, the ingredients are taken in the following ratio: for 0.5 liters of boiling water, 1 tbsp. l. chopped mushrooms.
The pulp of the tinder fungus is cut into large pieces, placed in a thermos, and poured with boiling water. The container is closed and the infusion is left overnight. In the morning, filter the product and take half a glass twice a day. The course of treatment is 15 days. Then take a week's break and repeat the treatment. Such therapy will not only increase the body's resistance to disease, but also speed up metabolism, lose weight, and cleanse the intestines.
Restrictions and contraindications
The fringed polypore is not a poisonous species, but it is not eaten as food because of its hardness and bitterness. There are a number of restrictions for treatment with tinctures and other medicines prepared from its pulp.
Contraindications:
- children under 7 years old;
- blood incoagulability;
- anemia;
- internal bleeding;
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Infusions prepared using edged tinder fungus are taken carefully. An overdose can lead to vomiting, dizziness, and an allergic reaction. In rare cases, the mushroom can cause hallucinations.
Why does fringed tinder fungus cause vomiting when overdosed?
The fruiting body of the basidiomycete contains a large amount of resinous substances. In alcoholic infusions and decoctions, their concentration increases. Medicines based on wood sponge are used with caution, as they can cause vomiting due to the presence of resinous substances in the composition.
Interesting facts about pine polypores
Artists use the fruiting body of the old edged tinder fungus to make felt-tip pens. They are solid enough for drawing, and their size can be changed at your discretion.
Before the invention of electricity, wood sponge pulp was used as silicon to start fires.
It is used instead of coals for forest fires
Long before this, hats were made from the pulp of some fringed tinder fungi. The lower tubular part of the mushroom was cut off, soaked in an alkali solution for about a month, then the material was beaten. The result was something between suede and felt.
Gloves, hats, and raincoats were made from this fabric.
Some fruiting bodies reached such enormous sizes that in the 19th century, a cassock was sewn from one such specimen for a German bishop, and this is a historical fact.
Today, folk craftsmen make souvenirs and crafts from the fruiting body of this basidiomycete.
By covering the tinder fungus with varnish and making a depression in it, you can get a flower pot for succulents
Beekeepers use wood sponge as a filler for smokers.
To prepare medicines, the fruiting body growing on living trees is cut off.
If you set fire to the flesh of a pine sponge and leave it smoldering near a wasp nest, you can get rid of harmful insects forever.
Dried and crushed tinder fungus (100 g), diluted in 1 liter of water, is used against late blight. The aqueous solution is boiled, then cooled and the affected plants are sprayed with it.
If the basidiomycete pulp is soaked in saltpeter, cut into several pieces and dried, you can obtain material for lighting fires.
Lotions made from a decoction of tinder fungus help to cure papillomas and other unaesthetic formations on the skin.
It is impossible to get rid of wood sponge in the garden using folk or industrial means. Such measures to combat the fringed tinder fungus are ineffective. If the tree is still alive, the mycelium is cut out along with the bark and part of the trunk, the wound is sealed with garden varnish, and the woody remains along with the saprophyte are burned.
Conclusion
The fringed polypore is a saprophyte fungus that parasitizes deciduous and coniferous trees. Its appearance signals the weakness of the plant crop. Soon after the first fruiting bodies ripen, the bark becomes covered with brown rot, which completely destroys the trunk. The wood sponge, as the fungus is also called, not only causes disease and decay for plants; the basidiomycete is used in folk medicine as a panacea for many ailments.
