Fomitopsis pinicola, the red-belted conk, is a common perennial bracket fungus of temperate Eurasia that causes a brown rot of wood. It grows on living and dead conifers and, less commonly, on hardwoods. DNA studies have split the former broad concept into F. pinicola in Europe and Asia and two North American species, F. mounceae and F. schrenkii.
Inedible: woody and tough. It has been described as a laborious famine food and is used as tinder. Medicinal uses are reported from Asia, but it is not a food mushroom.
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Habitat
On living and dead conifers, especially pines and spruces, and less commonly on hardwoods. Causes a brown rot that degrades cellulose and leaves a weakened lignin residue.
Distribution
In the narrow sense: Europe and Asia (common throughout temperate Eurasia). North American material formerly called F. pinicola is now treated as F. mounceae (eastern, midwestern and western US) and F. schrenkii (higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to central Mexico).
Characteristics
Cap: Hoof-shaped to triangular or shelflike, hard and tough, up to 30 cm or more across and 15 cm thick; orange-yellow with a white margin at first, later dark reddish to brown, often with an orange margin. Pores: Whitish when young, pale yellow to leather-brown with age; 3-4 per mm. Stem: Absent. Spores: Pale yellow and smooth. Key features: Woody perennial conk, dark reddish to brown with a paler or orange margin; mostly on conifers.
