Fomes fomentarius, the tinder polypore

Class Holobasioiomycetes Order Aphyllophorales Family Polyporaceae Fomes fomentarius, Non –gilled Basidiomycete

It’s Adaptive  pores must be orientated to open to the earth.   shape of the fruiting body is curved, showing what happened when the tree the polypore was growing on gradually leaned and fell over.   tree orientation changed, and the original fruiting body sent out generative hyphae and formed a new fruiting body adjacent to the first.

Generative Hyphae Regrowth White generative hyphae grew out of the damaged basidiocarp White generative hyphae grew out of the damaged basidiocarp

Microscopic Characteristics Basidia: swollen base & 4 sterigmata Basidiospores: cylindrical, smooth, & x 4-7 μm in diameter The generative hyphae have clamp connections

Acts as White Rot Causes a white mottled hearth-rot on living trees, and continues feeding off the dead and fallen trees where it acts as a saprophyte Causes a white mottled hearth-rot on living trees, and continues feeding off the dead and fallen trees where it acts as a saprophyte Decays lignin Decays lignin Leaves wood soft, & spongy Leaves wood soft, & spongy

The ice-man’s fungus Fomes fomentarius was found with it in a leather bag Fomes fomentarius was found with it in a leather bag Used as tinder and to transport fire Used as tinder and to 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 caps and chest protectors As pincushions to prevent pins and needles from rusting Used by entomologists to mount their delicate insects Sold for use in fly fishing as "amadou," which is used to absorb excess water from flies

Even more uses Used in smoking rituals to banish evil spirits Used as snuff or mixed with tobacco