Treatment of tinder fungi and their description (+29 photos)

One of the most mysterious and little-studied mushrooms in Russian forests is the tinder fungus. The main characteristics of this species are its habit of growing on trees and the unusual shape of its fruit. Experts recommend carefully examining the mushroom's appearance and characteristics before adding it to your basket, as some varieties are poisonous. Despite this, it is often used in folk medicine and cooking. Today, the term "tinder fungus" is generally considered to refer to morphology, not taxonomy.

Characteristic features of the tinder fungus

Their main characteristic is that they grow not in the substrate, but on deciduous trees, closer to the roots. They are also often seen on stumps. This species includes not only edible but also poisonous fruits, which must be distinguished. Edible species grow primarily in mixed forests.

Although tinder fungi are considered parasitic, many species possess beneficial and medicinal properties, making them widely used in folk medicine. Photos and detailed descriptions will help you understand the diversity and key features of the most common species.

Appearance, structure and photos

The mushroom is a saprophyte. Like all cap mushrooms, it consists of mycelium and a fruiting body. It's easy to distinguish from other species because the fruiting part has a distinctive appearance:

1. It is basically hoof-shaped and woody in structure.
2. The cap width is from 5 to 40 cm, and its thickness is 10-20 cm.
3. The body is attached to the tree trunk by its side.
4. The cap surface is smooth to the touch, covered with a crust in some subspecies, and the color varies among varieties. The edges of the cap are fluffy.

   

   

   

5. The pulp is dirty yellow in color, firm in consistency, and emits a pleasant fruity aroma.
6. The lower surface of the fruiting part of the hymenophore is flat, white or grey in colour.
7. The tubular part is represented by layered tubes, the number of which increases every year.
8. Each new layer contains pores, approximately 5 mm in diameter, initially white. With age, the pores darken.

Spreading

The main morphological characteristics are the cap color and the attachment to the tree. Polypores are widespread throughout the temperate zone of Russia—in forests, shelterbelts, and gardens, especially in the European part of the country, Siberia, and the Far East—as well as in almost every corner of the world—in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America.

Nutritional value

Edible varieties include liverwort and scaly, while the sulfur-yellow variety is conditionally edible.

The mushroom is eaten when young, as it becomes tough and loses its flavor as it matures. The fruits can be used in soups, stir-fries, as a seasoning, and for medicinal purposes.

Types and their descriptions with photos

The species has a large number of subspecies, which must be distinguished, as some of them are poisonous and can be life-threatening to humans.

Real

The polypore is considered the most common. This species is perennial and can be found year-round. It grows primarily on deciduous trees such as birch, beech, and alder.

It can also be found on stumps and fallen trees. It is most common in the Northern Hemisphere. Fruiting bodies can grow singly or in groups. All members of the Coriolates family are inedible, and the True Coriolate subspecies is no exception.

Birch

Other names for this subspecies include chaga or beveled chaga. This is a widespread annual subspecies that grows under tree bark. The fruiting portion of this species is flat, up to 40 cm in diameter, and the growths can be black or brownish with white veins (lighter at first, darkening over time).

The spores are elliptical, initially colorless, then turning brownish-yellow. The mushroom forms from hard growths. The surface of the growths is wavy and covered with a crust. When cut, the flesh ranges from dirty yellow to brown and easily separates from the tubular layer. The mushroom is found in birch forests in Russia, Europe, America, and Korea.

It thrives not only on living trunks of deciduous trees but also on dead birch trees. This subspecies promotes the development of white mold. Medicinally, it is used in the form of infusions and decoctions as an antitumor and antigastritis remedy. It bears fruit from midsummer to early winter.

Leafy

This subspecies is distinguished from others by its large size. The fruiting portion can reach 1 m in diameter and weigh up to 20 kg. This mushroom can be found in mid-August, most often on stumps or old trees. This species is quite rare. Small, wavy, shapeless caps form a large body.

The cap is fleshy and tapering at the base. The upper part is brown, and the lower surface is composed of small tubes. The flesh is light-colored and has a pleasant aroma. The stem does not exceed 10 cm in size. This subspecies is considered edible, so it is often eaten boiled or fried.

Another characteristic of the leafy polypore is its ability to grow rapidly. The cap can reach a weight of 10-12 kg in a few weeks. The flesh is always soft and fresh. All parts are edible after careful cooking.

Sulphur yellow

The main characteristic of this conditionally edible species is the dirty-yellow, scaly surface of the cap. The mushroom reaches approximately 30-35 cm in width. The fruiting bodies are fleshy, juicy, and loose, but brittle.

Large pores are easily visible on the underside. The tubular portion is formed by small pores. The flesh is white, juicy, with a slightly tart aroma. This subspecies grows on stumps or coniferous trees, and peak yield occurs in the spring.

Winter

The mushroom has a small cap, up to 10 cm, yellowish in color; the cap surface of young mushrooms may be covered with short hairs. The stem is no more than 1 cm in height, and the tubular portion is white, turning brown as the mushroom dries.

The flesh is white. This subspecies is a saprotroph and grows on stumps and deciduous trees. It is harvested in the fall, and only the young, long-boiled caps are considered edible.

Scaly

The cap of this subspecies reaches 50 cm in diameter, is cream-colored, and covered with bright brown scales. The stem is up to 4 cm tall, dark brown, and the tubes are light. The flesh is milky, with a pleasant aroma and flavor. It grows primarily on fruit and deciduous trees from early summer until September.

This subspecies is considered parasitic because it causes yellow-white rot. All parts are edible, but only young specimens.

Collection rules, medicinal properties, contraindications

Experts recommend collecting tinder fungi in the spring, as this is when they accumulate beneficial substances. It's not recommended to collect old mushrooms, as they may contain harmful substances accumulated from the environment.

The mushroom should be cut from the tree as high as possible. It is not recommended to cut it from dead trees or stumps. It is removed with a sharp knife or axe. Experienced mushroom pickers recommend picking during the waning moon according to the lunar calendar.

The birch species has the greatest number of beneficial properties, which is why it is used for medicinal purposes. However, there are also contraindications for the use of such drugs.

Medicines are prepared exclusively from the powder. Polypore preparations are used to treat intoxications due to the high content of agaric acid. These beneficial substances also promote the production of liver enzymes that break down amino acids. Tinctures are also used for more serious illnesses, such as tuberculosis or cancer.

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In treatment cases, medications are taken for several months, with courses repeated 2-3 times per year. Treatment with tinder fungus-based medications is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 5-6 years of age, or anyone with any allergies.

Chaga is harvested throughout the year to prepare medicinal remedies, but only from living, healthy trees. Tinctures are prepared from the collected tinder fungi. These are made using vodka, boiling water, or simply warm water. These tinctures are stored in cool places, and the preparations are made only from powders.

Recipes and cooking features

Very few species of polypores can be eaten with extreme caution. After thorough cooking, all parts of the scaly, foliate, sulfur-yellow, and cap polypores are edible. Before cooking, all harvested mushrooms should be boiled for 40-50 minutes.

The most popular recipe is to cook tinder fungus with onions. To do this, peel the fruiting bodies and soak them in water for several hours. After boiling, finely chop and fry. At the end of frying, add the onion and simmer for 10-15 minutes. The finished dish is sprinkled with herbs.

To prepare tinder fungus with sour cream, prepare onions, sour cream, vegetable oil, dill, and pepper. Boil the mushrooms, chop them, and fry them with the onions, then add the sour cream. Sprinkle the finished dish with dill.

Even young tinder fungus can cause poisoning, so it should be consumed in moderation—a small portion of a few spoons no more than once a week. Not recommended for children or pregnant women.

Answers to frequently asked questions

The most frequently asked questions about tinder fungi include questions about their edibility, cooking rules, and treatment:

Chaga mushrooms are one of the most common types of mushrooms. Folk medicine recommends chaga mushrooms for many ailments. Edible varieties are eaten only when young and after careful preparation.