Fomes fomentariusFomes fomentarius, ,
the tinder polyporethe tinder polypore
Class Holobasioiomycetes Order Aphyllophorales Family Polyporaceae
Fomes fomentarius,
Non –gilled Basidiomycete
It’s AdaptiveIt’s Adaptive pores must be orientated pores must be orientated
to open to the earth. to open to the earth.
shape of the fruiting shape of the fruiting body is curved, showing body is curved, showing what happened when the what happened when the tree the polypore was tree the polypore was growing on gradually growing on gradually leaned and fell over. leaned and fell over.
tree orientation tree orientation changed, and the original changed, and the original fruiting body sent out fruiting body sent out generative hyphae and generative hyphae and formed a new fruiting body formed a new fruiting body adjacent to the first. adjacent to the first.
Generative Hyphae Generative Hyphae RegrowthRegrowth
White generative White generative hyphae grew out of hyphae grew out of the damaged the damaged basidiocarpbasidiocarp
Microscopic Characteristics
• Basidia: swollen base & 4 sterigmata
• Basidiospores: cylindrical, smooth, & 12-18 x 4-7 μm in diameter
• The generative hyphae have clamp connections
Acts as White RotActs as White Rot
Causes a white Causes a white mottled hearth-rot mottled hearth-rot on living trees, and on living trees, and continues feeding continues feeding off the dead and off the dead and fallen trees where it fallen trees where it acts as a acts as a saprophytesaprophyte
Decays ligninDecays lignin Leaves wood soft, & Leaves wood soft, &
spongyspongy
The ice-man’s fungusThe ice-man’s fungus
Fomes fomentariusFomes fomentarius was found with it in was found with it in a leather bag a leather bag
Used as tinder and Used as tinder and to transport fireto transport fire
•In 1991 a 5200 year old mummified corpse was discovered
Practical Uses:
cauterizing wounds - Hippocrates
a styptic to stop bleeding ("surgeon's agaric")
remedy against dysmenorrhea, hemorrhoids, and bladder disorders in Europe
diuretic, laxatives and nerve tonic in Indic folk medicine
treating cancers of the esophagus, stomach and uterus in China
Medical Uses
fomentarius = dressing for wounds
Making clothing such as Making clothing such as caps and chest caps and chest protectors protectors
As pincushions to As pincushions to prevent pins and prevent pins and needles from rusting needles from rusting
Used by entomologists Used by entomologists to mount their delicate to mount their delicate insects insects
Sold for use in fly fishing Sold for use in fly fishing as "amadou," which is as "amadou," which is used to absorb excess used to absorb excess water from flieswater from flies
More More UsesUses
Even more uses
• Used in smoking rituals to banish evil spirits
• Used as snuff or mixed with tobacco