Fomitopsis pinicola
Krit. Finl. Basidsv., p.306. 1889.
Common Name: none
Synonym: Fomes pinicola
Fruiting body perennial; initially knob-like, forming a hard, rounded bracket or hoof-shaped, sessile sporocarp, 5-25 cm broad, 2.5-15 cm thick; upper surface at first yellowish-brown to orange-brown, varnished, in age dull, dark-brown to blackish-brown, concentrically grooved, the margin banded reddish to orange-brown, with a blunt, white edge; lower surface minutely pored, white, bruising pale yellow to buff; flesh woody, yellowish-brown over multiple layers of tubes; pores of fresh specimens frequently exuding droplets of clear liquid.
Spores 5.5-7 x 4.0-5.0 µm, oval, smooth; spore print pale yellow.
Solitary to scattered on conifer logs and stumps, less common on hardwoods; fruiting year round.
Inedible; too woody to be of culinary value.
The woody conks of Fomitopsis pinicola are dark-brown to blackish-brown typically with a varnished, orange-brown marginal band. Ganoderma brownii, the 'artist conk' is similar, though usually not as dark. Its pores bruise brown, as opposed to yellow-buff, lacks a brightly colored marginal band, and has brown rather than pale yellow spores. Fomitopsis pinicola conks may grow for many years, each season adding a new layer of tubes. Counting the tube layers, somewhat analagous to counting tree rings, gives a rough idea of the age of the conk. Fomitopsis pinicola is an important decayer of conifer wood. It is generally described as a saprophyte but in some areas is know to attack living trees.
A recent paper (Haight et al. 2019) claims that that Fomitopsis pinicola is restricted to Eurasia. The paper uses three names for the Fomitopsis pinicola complex in North America, F. ochracea, F. mounceae, and F. schrenkii. Under this interpretation F. mounceae and F. schrenkii have been found in California. Considering that their Fomitopsis mounceae and Fomitopsis pinicola from Europe have a 100% mating compatibility, that the genetic differences are minimal, and that Fomitopsis mounceae and Fomitopsis schrenkii are pretty much indistinguishable, we believe that Fomitopsis mounceae & Fomitopsis schrenkii are probably just populations of Fomitopsis pinicola. The paper presents insufficient evidence for the validity of the two new speceis. Fomitopsis ochracea seems to be a species truly distinct from from Fomitopsis pinicola.
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— on Beech in France
— on Beech in France
— cloesup of pore surface showing droplets of exuded liquid
