|
|
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Polyporus brumalis |
Polyporus brumalis is a winter polypore that grows on fallen branches of deciduous trees. The pores of these thin-capped polypores cannot be detached from the upper layer of the cap. |
| Well camouflaged among the fallen leaves, these brown
funnel caps can be difficult to find, but when you do come across one
there is often a small group on the same fallen log.
Because it first appears in November, this fascinating funnel-shaped fungus is often referred to as the Winter Polypore. Tough and inedible, these are not fungi to gather as food; however, the dried caps are sometimes used as table decorations or as inert contributors to pot pouri. |
Description |
The upper surface of the cap of this
occasional polypore is smooth and usually grey-brown but very variable in
colour and often zonate. As they age, the fruiting bodies become much
darker.
2 to 8 cm in diameter and 2 to 9 cm thick, the fruiting bodies usually have inrolled and wavy margins. The flesh is white and leathery, becoming very hard in dry weather. |
Tubes and Pores |
Beneath the cap, the white tubes are packed together at a density of 2 or 3 per mm; they are between 0.5 and 2 mm deep and terminate in white pores that turn buff as they age. |
Spore print |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Not distinctive. |
Habitat |
Restricted to dead hardwood - usually fallen branches and particularly beech. |
Season |
Late autumn through to spring. |
Occurrence |
Very infrequent. |
Similar species |
|
*** CD-ROM Multimedia Guide to Fungi: Available Now ***