Moni polypore (Fomes fomentarius) ata ma faʻamatalaga

True polypore (Fomes fomentarius)

• Blood sponge;
• Polyporus fomentarius;
• Boletus fomentaria;
• Unguline fomentaria;
• Griseous famines.

True tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) is a fungus from the Coriol family, belonging to the genus Fomes. Saprophyte, belongs to the class of Agaricomycetes, the category of Polypores. Widespread.

Fa'amatalaga i fafo

The fruit bodies of this tinder fungus are perennial, in young mushrooms they have a rounded shape, and in mature ones they become hoof-shaped. The fungus of this species does not have legs, therefore the fruiting body is characterized as sessile. The connection with the surface of the tree trunk occurs only through the central, upper part.

The cap of the described species is very large, in mature fruiting bodies it has a width of up to 40 cm and a height of up to 20 cm. Cracks can sometimes be seen on the surface of the fruiting body. The color of the mushroom cap can vary from light, grayish to deep gray in ripe mushrooms. Only occasionally can the shade of the cap and the fruiting body of a real tinder fungus be light beige.

The pulp of the described fungus is dense, corky and soft, sometimes it can be woody. When cut, it becomes velvety, suede. In color, the flesh of the present tinder fungus is often brownish, richly reddish-brown, sometimes nutty.

The tubular hymenophore of the fungus contains light, rounded spores. When you click on it, the color of the element changes to a darker one. The spore powder of this tinder fungus is white in color, contains spores with a size of 14-24 * 5-8 microns. in their structure they are smooth, in shape they are oblong, they have no color.

Vaitaimi o Grebe ma nofoaga e nonofo ai

The true tinder fungus belongs to the category of saprophytes. It is this fungus that is the main cause of the appearance of white rot on the trunks of hardwood trees. Due to its parasitism, thinning and destruction of woody tissue occurs. The fungus of this species is widely distributed on the territory of the European continent. You can see it everywhere in many European countries, including Our Country. The true tinder fungus parasitizes mainly on deciduous trees. Plantations of birches, oaks, alders, aspens, and beeches are often subjected to its negative impact. You can often find a true tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) on dead wood, rotten stumps and dead trees. However, it can also affect very weak, but still living deciduous trees. Living trees become infected with this fungus through breaks in the branches, cracks in the trunks and in the bark.

Mea'ai

Mushroom e le mafai ona 'aina

Tulaga tutusa ma eseesega mai ia i latou

There is no similarity with other varieties of mushrooms in this tinder fungus. The characteristic features of this fungus are the shade of the cap and the features of the fastening of the fruiting body. Sometimes inexperienced mushroom pickers confuse this tinder fungus with a false tinder fungus. However, a feature of the described type of fungi is the possibility of an easier separation of the fruiting body from the surface of the tree trunk. This is especially noticeable if the separation is done manually, in the direction from the bottom up.

O isi fa'amatalaga e uiga i le mushroom

The main feature of this tinder fungus is the presence in its composition of medicinal components that can prevent the development of cancerous tumors in the human body. At its core, this fungus can be used for effective prevention and treatment of cancer in the early stages.

Fomes fomentarius, as already noted, is a parasite, and therefore always causes irreparable harm to agriculture and park landscape. The trees affected by it gradually die, which is badly reflected in the beauty of the surrounding nature.

The history of the use of a fungus called a true tinder fungus is quite interesting. In ancient times, this fungus was used to produce tinder (a special material that can be ignited effortlessly even with a single spark). This component was also found during excavations in the equipment of the mummy of Ötzi. The inner part of the fruiting body of the species described is often used by traditional healers as an excellent hemostatic agent. Actually, it is thanks to these properties that the mushroom in the people got its name “blood sponge”.

Sometimes the real tinder fungus is used as a component in the handicraft production of souvenirs. Beekeepers use dried tinder fungus to kindle smokers. A few decades ago, this type of fungus was actively used in surgery, but now there is no practice of using this fungus in this area.