At the base of one of the trees on Willowa Street in Bolesławiec, a mysterious mushroom with an unusual appearance has grown.
What mushroom is it?
It is the weeping polypore (Pseudoinonotus dryadeus), a species of fungus from the Hymenochaetaceae family.
Here are some facts about it:
Appearance:
The fruiting body is annual and grows singly or in shingle-like groups. It has a hemispherical, bracket-shaped or shelf-like form, 10–25 cm wide. The upper surface is velvety or rough, initially cream-coloured, then changing to orange-brown, ochre, rusty or tobacco-brown. A characteristic feature is the numerous drops of reddish-brown liquid on the surface (hence weeping in the name). The lower surface (hymenophore) forms tubes with white, frosted pores. Young fruiting bodies have watery, spongy flesh, while older ones are drier, fibrous and corky.
Occurrence:
The weeping polypore grows at the base of oak trunks. It is rare and threatened with extinction.
Nomenclature:
In Polish literature, this species has also been described as “wood conk,” “oak polypore” and “weeping fibrous conk.” The name “weeping polypore” is currently recommended.
Significance:
Although it looks beautiful, the fungus is a parasite attacking healthy, fully viable trees. The spores mainly enter through injured roots or mechanical damage to the base of the trunk. Fruiting bodies appear mainly on the roots and the butt section of the trunk. The mycelium developing in the wood causes very severe white rot. The fungus is considered inedible.
Some sources even describe it as poisonous and containing substances that may cause damage to the liver and other organs. Therefore, collecting or consuming this fungus is not recommended.
More about the weeping polypore.