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