Northern Cinnabar Polypore

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Northern Cinnabar Polypore is an easily recognized bracket fungus. It is widespread and common in eastern North America but not common in Minnesota. It is found from spring to fall, alone or in groups, on dead hardwood. It is rarely found on conifers. It is saprobic, causing white rot on fallen logs.

The fruiting body is a stalkless, shelf-like bracket. The bracket is nearly circular to fan-shaped or kidney-shaped, ¾″ to 5″ in diameter, and up to ¾″ thick. When young, it is bright reddish-orange or cinnabar-red, the flesh is tough, and the upper surface is smooth and covered with fine to suede-like hairs. As it ages, the color fades to dull orange, the flesh becomes rigid, and the upper surface becomes rough and nearly hairless.

The underside is bright reddish-orange or cinnabar-red. It is similar to upperside color when fresh, but it does not fade with age. There are 2 to 4 pores per 1 ⁄32″ (1 millimeter).

The flesh is reddish to yellowish-red. It is too tough to be edible.

The spore print is white.

Deciduous and mixed forests

Spring through fall

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

Widespread but not common

In a molecular DNA study published in 2011, the authors noted that “Pycnoporus is separated from Trametes solely on the basis of the orange-red colors of the basidiocarps.” They concluded that “...all members of the trametoid clade should be classified under one single generic name (Trametes).” Pycnoporus cinnabarinus became Trametes cinnabarina. This reclassification has not been universally accepted.

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Location: Cass County