Fringed polypore

Description

The fringed polypore (Polish: żagiew orzęsiona, twardziak orzęsiony) is a small, tough fungus with a round, flat or slightly convex cap 1–12 cm in diameter. The cap surface is matt, scaly and often bristly-hairy, especially near the margin, and its colour is highly variable, from yellow and rusty to greyish-brown and nearly black. The underside consists of very small, regular pores, paler than the cap. The stem is short, tough, hazel or greyish-yellow, often with short bristly hairs.

It grows on fallen branches and trunks of broadleaved trees in forests, parks and gardens; it is rarely found on conifers. It is common in Poland. Fruiting bodies appear throughout the growing season, most often in spring, from April to May, less often in autumn.

It can be told apart from similar Lentinus species by its very fine pores and the hairy cap margin and stem. The winter polypore has distinctly larger pores and grows mainly in winter and spring, while the spring polypore also has large pores. The species is inedible.

Identification features

Cap

Diameter 1–12 cm, thickness 0.2–0.8 cm; round, flat or slightly convex in shape, sometimes with a small point, rarely concave. Margin sharp, thin, inrolled, sometimes wavy or lobed. Surface matt, covered with smaller or larger scales, in older specimens with a network of cracks, bristly-hairy over the whole surface or only near the margin. Colour highly variable: yellow, rusty, greyish-brown, tobacco-brown, buff or nearly black.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Poroid (tubes and pores). Tubes 0.5–2 mm long, with very thin walls, slightly decurrent on the stipe. Pores very small, regular, about 4–6 per mm. Hymenophore colour distinctly paler than the cap.

Stem

Usually central, less often eccentric; height 2–3 cm (exceptionally up to 6 cm), thickness 0.2–0.7 cm. Tough, cylindrical, sometimes curved in an arc, occasionally with a thickened base. Surface smooth, fibrous-scaly or covered with short bristly hairs; colour hazel, greyish-yellow to light chestnut.

Flesh

No data on the colour, colour changes, smell or taste of the flesh. The flesh should not be tasted.

Spore print and spores

Spore print colour: no data. Spores sausage-shaped to cylindrical, 5–7 × 2 µm.

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. Grows on dead wood: on fallen branches and trunks of broadleaved trees, rarely on conifers. Occurs in various types of forests, parks and gardens.

Distribution. Widespread in Europe, recorded in most countries; outside Europe reported from Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Taiwan. Common in Poland. Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. Fruiting bodies appear throughout the growing season, most often in spring (April–May), less often in autumn (August–November).

What can it be confused with?

• Lentinus brumalis (winter polypore) — Distinctly larger pores, less hairy stipe; fruiting bodies appear mainly in winter and spring.
• Lentinus arcularius (spring polypore) — Large pores.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

• The species was described by James Bolton in 1792 under the name Boletus substrictus; it was only moved to the genus Lentinus in 2016.
• The old Polish name "huba brunatnawa" (F. Błoński) was replaced by "żagiew orzęsiona" (S. Domański, 1967), and in 2021 the name "twardziak orzęsiony" was recommended.
• Outside Europe it is reported from Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Taiwan.
• For a long time the species was placed in the genus Polyporus under the name Polyporus ciliatus; that name is now a synonym.