Bjerkandera

Description:

It is a species of fungus in the Meruliaceae family. Microscopic thread-like hyphae colonize and degrade dead wood, and visually striking shelf-like fruiting bodies often appear on the surface. During the decay process, all components of the wood cell walls are degraded including the cellulose, hemicellulose and recalcitrant lignin. Accordingly, this species is often referred to as a 'white-rot' fungus and related to other sequenced fungi such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Cerioporiopsis subvermispora, and Trametes versicolor. Upper surface suede-like, grey-brown with a white margin when young, becoming darker and blackening at the margin with age. Taste sourish, smell strongly fungusy. Pores minute, subcircular, smoke grey darkening with age. Spores straw yellow, ellipsoid. Hyphal structure monomitic; generative hyphae with clamp-connections. Habitat on dead wood of deciduous trees. Occurrence: season all year, annual.

Habitat:

It is a plant common pathogen that causes white-rot. It is a widely distributed wood decay fungus commonly associated with the decomposition of hardwoods. It is found throughout North America and Europe.

Notes:

Not edible.