Fringed polypore is a parasite that lives off the nutrients contained in the tree trunk. Many logging organizations are waging a relentless fight against it, as this fungus greatly harms their business. But scientists, on the contrary, consider it a very useful and noble inhabitant of the coniferous forest.
Bordered tinder fungus: range and habitat
This variety is commonly called pine tinder fungus. This is due to the fact that this parasite most of all likes to settle on the trunks of conifers. Like most of its relatives, it prefers the cool climate of the Northern Hemisphere. On the territory of Russia, it can be found in almost all regions, with the exception of the southern part of the country.
Despite popular belief, the fringed tinder fungus rarely grows on living trees. It is much more often attracted to stumps, dry or damaged trunks, and deadwood. Therefore, it is rather difficult to call this type of mushroom a full-fledged pest, since it parasitizes only on diseased or weakened trees.
Bordered polypore: description
The mushroom is completely missing a leg. It is attached to wood due to special fibers located in the side of the cap. It is curious that the bordered tinder fungus changes its color throughout its life. So, the body of a young mushroom is yellow-orange, and the old one is gray-brown. But the white stripe edging its edge remains unchanged, regardless of the age of the parasite.
The pulp of the tinder fungus has a felt structure. Because of this, it is very durable and allows the fungus to resist all sorts of damage. As for its color, it ranges from yellow to dark brown.
Pest control
Fringed polypore is a parasite that can damage wood. Any trees whose bark has serious defects or cracks may be at risk. It is in them that the spores of the fungus fall, after which the active maturation of the tinder fungus begins. In this case, the parasite literally sucks all the nutrients from the tree trunk. This leads to rotting of the wood, which significantly reduces the life of the entire plant.
In order to protect valuable species from the negative impact of the tinder fungus, logging companies carry out chemical treatment of their surfaces. They also look for mature mushrooms and then destroy them. Fortunately, the pest slowly infects the wood, and therefore timely human intervention allows you to save the tree.
The role of tinder fungi in the ecosystem
As for scientists, they are sure that the borderedThe tinder fungus, although a parasite, still brings great benefits to the forest. The thing is that it affects only diseased and weak trees, thereby removing them from the forest gene pool. Simply put, it acts as a natural orderly for the ecosystem.
In addition, after the decay of the wood affected by the bordered tinder fungus, nutrients for the earth enter the soil. Thus, the fungus directly affects the cycle of elements in nature. Killing the weak, he feeds the strong.
Medical applications
The banded tinder fungus is often used as a raw material for the manufacture of a number of medicines. For the most part, it is used in the treatment of diarrhea, polyuria, hepatitis and dysentery. For example, our ancestors in ancient times boiled a decoction of the pulp of a mushroom in order to relieve inflammation of the stomach, and the Indians of North America applied pieces of tinder fungus to wounds, as they clotted blood and stopped bleeding.
However, the mushroom has gained the greatest popularity in Asia. For example, in China, healers used tinder powders to improve overall well-being, as well as increase a person’s mental abilities. And in Korea, innovative development of drugs for diabetes with the addition of an extract of this parasitic organism is underway.
