Red Belted Polypore (Fomitopsis Pinicola) Identification and Medicinal Properties

The Red-Belted Polypore (Fomitopsis Pinicola) - a shelf fungus, otherwise known as the bracket fungus or the conk, is a hoof-shaped wood decay mushroom which causes a brown rot. The Red-Belted Polypore has potent medicinal properties, in particular as an anti-cancer, anti-oxidative and an anti-inflammatory agent. The fungus grows mostly on dead or dying wood and can be found all year round (it is perennial) on both deciduous and coniferous trees.

The best way to identify the Red-Belted Polypore is by the presence of the "red belt" - a band of reddish or close-enough color between the older black layer of the fungus and the fertile underside where the pores are located. An additional identification feature is the glossy infertile (upper) side of the mushroom that looks as though it was coated with a varnish.

The top of the Fomitopsis Pinicola conk consists of a hard crust containing concentric recesses. The coloring ranges from strong orange over reddish brown and blue-gray to gray black. The outermost growth zone, as mentioned earlier, is reddish, which gives the fungus his name. The crust melts when heated (not demonstrated in the video).

Source for medicinal properties of Fomitopsis Pinicola: https://akjournals.com/view/journals/066/46/4/article-p464.xml

I hope the video was helpful and educational for you, but please bear in mind that I’m not an expert and may be wrong about anything I say. Always do your own research and if you need an expert advice, do consult an actual expert. Please review my disclaimer at https://www.nophoneman.com/wild-edibles-disclaimer/

00:00 Disclaimer
00:18 Red-belted polypore fungus
00:41 Red-belted polypore growing on deciduous stump
01:14 Polypore meaning
01:53 Red-belted polypore vs artist’s conk and reishi
02:09 Bruising the polypore pores
02:53 Brown rot
03:07 Red-belted polypore identification
04:16 Red-belted polypore medicinal properties
04:56 Fomitopsis pinicola as tinder
05:06 Fomitopsis pinicola for tea

Keep rocking :o)

Mark
https://www.nophoneman.com/