Genus: Fomitopsis

Fomitopsis - genus of fungi of family Fomitopsidaceae.

Etymology

Fomitopsis, Fomitopsis. From Fomes m, Fomes (genus name) + όψις (opsis) f, appearance, look, spectacle.

Type species

Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw.) P. Karst., Meddn Soc. Fauna Flora fenn. 6: 9 (1881)

Description

Basidiomata perennial, sessile or resupinate-reflexed to resupinate, often hoof-shaped, more or less massive, sometimes thinner, almost shell-like.

Surface of caps covered with thick, more or less resinous crust. Tissue light-colored, white, pale, cream, yellowish, isabelline, sometimes ochre or pink, corky, corky-woody to woody.

Hymenophore tubular, layered, layers not always distinct. Pores small to medium, predominantly regular.

Hyphal system di- or trimitic. Generative hyphae thin-walled, hyaline, septate, with clamp connections. Skeletal and binding hyphae thick-walled, skeletal - weakly branched, hyaline or yellowish to pinkish, binding - strongly branched, hyaline.

Basidia clavate. Spores cylindrical, elongate-ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, non-amyloid. Cystidia absent.

Grow on wood of coniferous and deciduous trees, occasionally on drying living trees. Cause brown rot.

Reference materials:

Bondartseva M. A. — Key to Fungi of Russia. Order Aphyllophorales. Issue 2 (1998)