Laura Smith
Bracket fungi are a group of mushrooms that form large fruiting bodies, typically found on trees. They are defined by their growth form, rather than phylogeny, and are often woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. They are usually tough and sturdy, and produce their spores, called basidiospores, within the pores that make up the undersurface. Bracket fungi are also known as polypores, which is derived from the Greek words 'poly', meaning 'much' or 'many', and 'poros', meaning 'pore'. They are an important part of the nutrient cycle in a healthy forest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Bracket fungi are defined by their growth form rather than phylogeny. |
| Taxonomy | Bracket fungi are Basidiomycetes (club fungi) in the Kingdom Fungi. |
| Habitat | Bracket fungi are found on trees (living and dead) and coarse woody debris. |
| Diet | Bracket fungi feed on the heartwood of trees, which includes carbohydrates, lignin, and cellulose. |
| Morphology | Bracket fungi form large fruiting bodies called conks, which are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. |
| Size | Bracket fungi can range from a single row of a few caps to dozens of rows of caps that can weigh several hundred pounds. |
| Lifespan | Bracket fungi can live as long as the host plant survives, with some species growing for over 80 years. |
| Uses | Some bracket fungi are edible, such as chicken of the woods and oyster mushrooms, while others are used in traditional medicine or as a material similar to leather. |
| Examples | Common examples of bracket fungi include chicken of the woods, birch bracket, dryad's saddle, artist's conk, and turkey tail. |
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What You'll Learn
Bracket fungi are a type of mushroom
Bracket fungi are typically tough and sturdy and produce their spores, called basidiospores, within the pores that typically make up the undersurface. Most polypores inhabit tree trunks or branches, consuming the wood, but some soil-inhabiting species form mycorrhiza with trees. They are often restricted to either deciduous (angiosperm) or conifer (gymnosperm) host trees. Some species depend on a single tree genus, for example, Piptoporus betulinus is found on birch trees, while Perenniporia corticola is found on dipterocarps.
The fungal individual that develops the fruit bodies that are identified as polypores resides in soil or wood as mycelium. Forms of polypore fruit bodies range from mushroom-shaped to thin effused patches (crusts) that develop on dead wood. Perennial fruit bodies of some species growing on living trees can grow to be over 80 years old. Most species of polypores develop new, short-lived fruit bodies annually or several times a year.
Some species of bracket fungi are edible, such as chicken of the woods, which has the texture of chicken breast but the flavour of a mushroom. The lingzhi mushroom is another edible species, used in Chinese medicine. Bracket fungi can also be used as wicks in oil or fat lamps, and some species have been used in rituals and for utilitarian purposes for ages.
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They are also called polypores
Bracket fungi are also called polypores because they are a morphological group of mushrooms that form large fruiting bodies called conks. These conks are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. The name "polypore" comes from the Greek words "poly", meaning "much" or "many", and "poros", meaning "pore". Polypores are among the most efficient decomposers of lignin and cellulose, the main components of wood.
Polypores are often restricted to either deciduous (angiosperm) or conifer (gymnosperm) host trees. Some species depend on a single tree genus, such as Piptoporus betulinus, which grows on birch, or Perenniporia corticola, which grows on dipterocarps. The fungal individual that develops the fruit bodies identified as polypores resides in the soil or wood as mycelium.
The fruiting bodies of polypores can take on various forms, ranging from mushroom-shaped to thin effused patches (crusts) that develop on dead wood. Perennial fruit bodies of some species growing on living trees can grow to be over 80 years old, such as Phellinus igniarius. Most species of polypores develop new, short-lived fruit bodies annually or several times a year.
Some polypores are edible, such as chicken of the woods, while others, like the lingzhi mushroom, are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Most polypores are edible or at least non-toxic, although one genus, Hapalopilus, has been known to cause poisoning in several people, resulting in kidney dysfunction and central nervous system issues.
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They are Basidiomycetes (club fungi)
Bracket fungi are Basidiomycetes, also known as club fungi. They are a morphological group of basidiomycete-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi that form large fruiting bodies called conks. These conks are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside.
The fungal individuals that develop the fruit bodies that are identified as polypores reside in soil or wood as mycelium. Polypores are often restricted to either deciduous (angiosperm) or conifer (gymnosperm) host trees. Some species depend on a single tree genus, for example, Piptoporus betulinus on birch, and Perenniporia corticola on dipterocarps.
Bracket fungi are often parasitic, saprotrophic, or both. They are typically tough and sturdy and produce their spores, called basidiospores, within the pores that typically make up the undersurface. Most polypores inhabit tree trunks or branches, consuming the wood, but some soil-inhabiting species form mycorrhiza with trees.
The fungi that cause bracket fungi—and there are many—attack the hardwood interior, and therefore, the structural integrity of the tree, causing white or brown rot. If the rot occurs in a branch, it will weaken and eventually drop. If the disease attacks the trunk, the tree can fall.
Some species of bracket fungi are edible, such as chicken of the woods, and the lingzhi mushroom, which is used in Chinese medicine.
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They are parasitic, saprotrophic, or both
Bracket fungi, also called polypores or shelf fungi, are a morphological group of mushrooms that form large fruiting bodies called conks, which are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. Bracket fungi are often parasitic, saprotrophic, or both.
Parasitic fungi are those that feed off a living host. Bracket fungi are parasitic when they feed off living trees. They attack the hardwood interior of trees, compromising their structural integrity and causing white or brown rot. This rot can cause branches to weaken and eventually drop, and it can even cause an entire tree to fall.
Saprotrophic fungi, on the other hand, feed on dead organic matter. Bracket fungi are saprotrophic when they feed on dead wood, including twigs, branches, stumps, fallen logs, and standing logs. They are among the most efficient decomposers of lignin and cellulose, the main components of wood. Through decomposing tree trunks, they recycle a major part of the nutrients in forests.
Some common genera of bracket fungi, such as Ganoderma, can be both parasitic and saprotrophic. These fungi can grow large thick shelves that may contribute to the death of a tree, and then feed off the wood for years afterward. Their hardiness and resilience allow them to live for a long time, with some species developing multi-coloured circles of colour that are actually annual growth rings.
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Some bracket fungi are edible
Bracket fungi, also known as polypores, are a morphological group of mushrooms that form large fruiting bodies called conks. These fruiting bodies are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. Bracket fungi are often parasitic, saprotrophic, or both, and they can cause significant damage to trees.
While some bracket fungi are toxic or inedible, others are edible and even prized as food sources. Some edible bracket fungi include chicken of the woods (or sulphur shelf), the lingzhi mushroom, and the beefsteak fungus. Chicken of the woods is considered a top edible polypore species. The lingzhi mushroom is used in Chinese medicine. The beefsteak fungus, despite its name, is not a true polypore but is classified among the agarics.
In addition to their culinary uses, some bracket fungi have been used for other purposes throughout history. For example, tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) has been used as tinder since at least the time of Ötzi the Iceman. It has also been used to make a material similar to leather. Ganoderma applanatum, or artist's conk, is used as a substrate for drawings. Fresh specimens develop dark brown lines when drawn upon with a stylus, and the lines become permanent when dried.
Polypores are also used in traditional medicine and are actively studied for their medicinal properties and potential industrial applications. For example, the lignin-degrading enzymes of white rot polypore fungi can break down toxic compounds such as PCBs, PCPs, and TNT, which could be used for environmental clean-up. However, it is important to note that some polypores have been identified as serious pathogens of plantation trees, leading to timber spoilage.
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Frequently asked questions
Bracket fungus is the fruiting body of certain fungi that attack the wood of living trees. They are called 'heart rot fungi' because they feed on the heartwood, the central cylinder of tree trunks that contains no living cells.
Bracket fungi are related to puffballs and mushrooms, as well as other fungi. They are also called shelf fungi because of their fan-shaped or semicircular appearance.
Yes, some species of bracket fungi are edible, such as chicken of the woods, oyster mushrooms, hen-of-the-woods, and beefsteak fungi.
