Rosy Polypore

Description

Fomitopsis rosea, commonly known as the Rosy Polypore, is a perennial, sessile polypore fungus characterized by its distinctive pinkish to reddish-brown pore surface and often rosy-tinged upper surface. It is a white-rot fungus, playing a crucial ecological role in the decomposition of coniferous wood, particularly spruce and fir. This species is known for its hard, woody texture and typically grows in a shelf-like or hoof-shaped manner on dead or dying conifers.

How to Identify

Cap

The upper surface (pileus) is hard, woody, and often covered with a thin, resinous crust in older specimens. Coloration varies from pinkish-brown to reddish-brown, sometimes with grayish or blackish zones, especially towards the base. The margin is usually thick, rounded, and often lighter in color, sometimes with a distinct rosy hue.

Gills

Not gilled. The hymenophore consists of a pore surface. The pore surface is a distinctive rosy pink to reddish-brown, becoming duller with age. Pores are small, 3-5 per millimeter, circular to angular, and the tubes are stratified in older specimens, matching the color of the pore surface.

Stem

Absent (sessile). The fruiting body is directly attached to the substrate.

Flesh

The context (flesh) is tough, corky to woody, and pale pinkish-brown to reddish-brown, often with a faint, pleasant odor when fresh. It does not change color when bruised or cut.

Fruiting body

Perennial, sessile, hoof-shaped to shelf-like, often imbricate (overlapping). Typically 2-15 cm wide, 2-10 cm deep, and 1-6 cm thick. The upper surface is concentrically zoned, often with a dull, finely tomentose to glabrous texture, ranging in color from pinkish-brown, reddish-brown, to grayish-brown, often with a paler margin. The margin is typically rounded and can be pinkish or whitish when actively growing.

Habitat

Saprobic on dead or dying coniferous wood, particularly spruce (Picea spp.), fir (Abies spp.), and hemlock (Tsuga spp.). Less commonly found on hardwoods. Causes a brown rot.

Key Facts

• Cap surfaces: Dull, finely tomentose to glabrous, concentrically zoned, often with a thin resinous crust in older specimens.
• Growth Form: Sessile, solitary or imbricate, hoof-shaped to shelf-like.
• Spore Print: White
• Body color: Upper surface: pinkish-brown, reddish-brown, grayish-brown. Pore surface: rosy pink to reddish-brown.
• Odor: Faintly pleasant.
• Flesh bruises: Does not bruise.
• Height: Not applicable (sessile).
• Cap Diameter: 2-15 cm wide, 2-10 cm deep, 1-6 cm thick.
• Nutrient gathering: Saprobic (decomposer of dead wood).

Quick Check

• Odor: Faintly pleasant, sometimes described as slightly acidic or mushroomy.
• Fruiting: Perennial, sessile, hoof-shaped to shelf-like.
• Substrate: Dead or dying coniferous wood (spruce, fir, hemlock).

Where to Find

Finding Tips

Similar Species

Scientific Classification

Phylum

Basidiomycota

Class

Agaricomycetes

Order

Polyporales

Family

Fomitopsidaceae

Genus

Fomitopsis

Storage Information

• Max Temperature: Not applicable
• Freezing duration: Not applicable
• Min Temperature: Not applicable
• Refrigeration: Not applicable

How to Clean

Not applicable, as this mushroom is not edible. If collected for study or display, simply brush off any loose debris with a soft brush.

Explore Rosy Polypore