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Phaeolus schweinitzii, commonly known as Dyer's Mazegill, is a fungal plant pathogen that causes a brown rot of conifers. This mushroom is inedible and has a cosmopolitan distribution, causing tree decay in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
How to Identify
- Cap
- The cap is typically kidney-shaped or irregular, with a velvety surface. The color ranges from yellow-brown to dark brown, often with concentric zones of color.
- Gills
- The pore surface is yellowish to brownish, bruising darker when handled. The pores are angular and irregular, often maze-like.
- Stem
- The stem is usually absent or very short and stubby. When present, it is lateral and similar in color to the cap.
- Flesh
- The flesh is thick and fibrous, with a reddish-brown color.
- Fruiting body
- The fruit body is an annual, fleshy to corky bracket fungus. It can be up to 25 cm (10 in) in diameter and 5 cm (2 in) thick.
- Habitat
- Phaeolus schweinitzii is found on the roots and lower trunks of coniferous trees, especially pines and Douglas-fir. It causes a brown rot, which weakens the wood and can lead to tree death.
Key Facts
- Cap surfaces: Velvety, zoned
- Growth Form: Bracket
- Spore Print: White to yellowish
- Body color: Yellow-brown to dark brown
- Odor: Fruity or acidic
- Flesh bruises: Darker brown
- Height: Up to 5 cm thick
- Cap Diameter: Up to 25 cm
- Nutrient gathering: Parasitic/Saprophytic
Toxic
Mild ToxicityPhaeolus schweinitzii is considered inedible due to its tough texture and potential to cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals. It is not deadly poisonous but should not be consumed.
Quick Check
- Odor: Fruity or acidic
- Fruiting: Annual
- Substrate: Coniferous wood
Where to Find
North America
Common in coniferous forests throughout North America.
Europe
Found in many European countries, particularly in areas with pine forests.
Finding Tips
Look for Conifers
Search around the base of pine and Douglas-fir trees, especially those showing signs of decay.
Check for Brown Rot
Identify trees with brown rot, a type of decay that causes the wood to turn brown and crumble.
Similar Species
Oak Bracket
Mushroom
Also known as: Inonotus dryadeus
Scientific Classification
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Polyporales
- Family
- Fomitopsidaceae
- Genus
- Phaeolus
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