The Hoof Fungus (Fomes fomentarius), also known as the Tinder Bracket, is a large, rock-hard bracket shaped just like a horse's hoof. Its grey to brown upper surface is ridged with bands, one for each year of growth, as it adds a new layer of tubes every year. Underneath, the cream to pale brown pore surface has small round pores, and the tough, corky flesh is brown.
It grows on broadleaf trees, most often birch and beech, and can be seen all year round. It is most common in Scotland but is found in several southern counties.
The Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina) is smoother, paler and lasts only a year. People have used the Hoof Fungus as tinder for thousands of years: Ötzi the Iceman carried pieces more than 5,000 years ago, and anglers still use its flesh, called amadou, to dry their flies. It is too tough to eat.
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Distribution
Most common in Scotland, known in several Southern counties
Habitat
On broadleaved trees, most frequently with Betula or Fagus
Etymology
Fomes is Latin for 'tinder'. fomentarius means 'used for tinder', after its long use for lighting fires.
Associates
Betula, Fagus
Fruiting Body
A hoof-shaped perennial bracket, 10-30 cm across, in shades of yellowish-brown, reddish-brown and greyish-brown. Concentric grooves mark the surface, formed as the pores are grown each year, and it is tough and very hard with a 1-2mm thick crust.
| Cycle | perennial |
|---|---|
| Colour | |
| Shape | Hoof-shaped |
| Width | 10 - 30 cm |
Pores
The pore surface is cream to yellowish-brown, with small round pores numbering 3-4 per mm. It bruises slightly brown when handled.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Round |
Tubes
The tubes are 2-8 mm in length, pale grey-brown when young and darkening with age. They are laid down in layers year by year, which produces the concentric grooves on the surface.
Flesh
The flesh is pale reddish-brown, tough, corky and concentrically zoned. It has a pleasant, mushroomy smell and a bitter taste.
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Odour | Pleasant, mushroomy |
| Taste | Bitter |
Spores
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Ellipsoid, Cylindric |
| Ornamentation | Smooth |
| Size | 18.5-19 x 5.5-6 μm |
Classification
- ↳ Phylum: Basidiomycota
- ↳ Subphylum: Agaricomycotina
- ↳ Class: Agaricomycetes
- ↳ Order: Polyporales
- ↳ Family: Polyporaceae
- ↳ Genus: Fomes
Synonyms
- Boletus fomentarius L.
- Fomes fomentarius (L. ex Fr.) Fr.
- Fomes griseus Lazaro
- Polyporus fomentarius (L.) Fr.
- Polyporus inzengae Ces. & de Not.
- Polyporus mirus Kalchbr.
- Ungularia albescens Lazaro
- Ungularia nivea Lazaro
- Ungularia populina Lazaro
- Ungularia subzonata Lazaro
Reference Sources
T. Læssøe, J. H. Peterson (2019) Fungi of Temperate Europe Vol. 2. Princeton University Press.
R. Phillips (2006) Mushrooms. Macmillan.
G. Kibby (2020) Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain & Europe Vol. 1. Geoffrey Kibby.
Genus Fomes
No other species found in this genus.
