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Fomitopsis pinicola
Fomitopsis pinicola, is a stem decay fungus. Its conk (fruit body) is known as the red belt conk. Description Cap is hoof-shaped or triangular, hard and tough texture, up to 30–40 x 25 x 10 cm. Its surface is more or less smooth, at first orange-yellow with a white margin, later dark reddish to brown and then frequently with orange margin. The pore surface is pale yellow to leather-brown, 3–4 pores per mm. It grows as thick shelves on live and dead coniferous or (less common) deciduous trees.[2] The fruiting body of Fomitopsis pinicola is called the conk. It is a woody, pileate fruiting body with pores lined with basidia on its underside. As in other polypores, the fruiting body is perennial with a new layer of pores produced each year on the bottom of the old pores. The pores are whitish when young and become somewhat brownish in age.[3] This mushroom is inedible due to its woody texture, but it is useful as tinder.
Found in Redwood Forest Hiouchi, California. The species is common throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. It is a decay fungus that serves as a small-scale disturbance agent in coastal rainforest ecosystems. It influences stand structure and succession in temperate rainforests. It performs essential nutrient cycling functions in forests.[1]
Not Edible. Has Medicinal properties see 2nd link. Has been used by natives to keep embers burning while carring to next camp site. Good tinder.
1 Comment
A very beautiful, very colorful photo....very beautiful colors....