The winter polypore

Description:

This small, dark brown polypore distinguishes itself from similar species by having a stem which does not become black, a smooth (rather than hairy) cap margin, and tiny circular pores. It fruits on the dead wood of hardwoods, and has a special affinity for birch. The tough fruiting bodies are persistent and can be found year-round, but it tends to come up fresh in fall and spring. Description: Ecology: Saprobic on decaying wood of hardwoods and especially frequent on dead birch wood; growing alone or gregariously; fall and spring, but found nearly year-round; widely distributed in North America. Cap: 1.5-10 cm; broadly convex, often with a sunken central depression; round in outline; dry; smooth or finely hairy; yellowish brown to dark brown or reddish brown; the margin usually inrolled, at least when young. Pore Surface: Whitish; not bruising; running slightly down the stem; 2-3 round pores per mm; tubes to 3 mm deep. Stem: Central or somewhat off-center; 2.5-5 cm long; 2-5 mm wide; equal; dry; smooth or finely hairy; whitish to grayish or pale brownish; tough. Flesh: Whitish; thin; very tough. Spore Print: White. Microscopic Features: Spores 5-7 x 1.5-2.5 µ; smooth; cylindrical ( mushroom expert)

Habitat:

location: North America, Europe edibility: Inedible fungus colour: Brown normal size: 5-15cm cap type: Convex to shield shaped stem type: Lateral, rudimentary or absent flesh: Pore material cannot be seperated from flesh of the cap spore colour: White, cream or yellowish habitat: Grows on wood Polyporus brumalis Fr. Fruit body annual. Cap 1.5-10cm across, circular, convex or depressed with an inrolled margin; yellow-brown to reddish brown or blackish brown; dry, densely hairy when young, becoming almost smooth. Tubes 1-3mm deep, slightly decurrent. Pores 2-3 per mm, circular to angular; whitish. Stem 20-60 x 1-5mm, central or off center; grayish or brownish; minutely hairy or smooth. Flesh 1-2mm thick; white. Spores cylindrical to sausage-shaped, smooth, 5-7 x 1.5-2.5µ. Deposit white. Habitat on dead hardwoods, especially birch. Common. Found in eastern North America, west to the Great Plains, and occasionally in the Pacific Northwest. Season June-October. Not edible (rogersmushrooms)

Notes:

Medicinal effects Anti-tumor properties An extract of culture mycelia was able to inhibit the growth of Sarcoma 180 solid cancer in mice by 90% (Ohtsuka et al., 1973). Antibacterial activity Using the streak-plate method (a test for antibacterial activity), this species did not inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus nor Escherichia coli on either thiamine peptone medium or malt agar ( http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/po... ) healing-mushroom