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Chaga, Clinker Polypore, Cinder Conk, Birch Canker Polypore
1 public strain
Chaga is a wood-decay fungus of the Hymenochaetaceae, mainly on birch. The black, charcoal-like mass on the trunk is a sterile conk (a dense mass of mycelium), not the fruiting body. Thin fertile fruiting bodies form under the bark only after the host, or part of it, dies.
Not a food. Traditionally grated and brewed as a tea or decoction, and sold as a supplement, but evidence for its safety and effectiveness is insufficient. It is very high in oxalate; prolonged use has been linked to oxalate kidney damage, including end-stage renal disease, so caution is advised.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
