Polyporus arcularius (Batsch) Fr.
Family: Polyporaceae
Spring Polypore
Polyporus arcularius image
National Mushroom Centre  
Mata, M., D. Penjor and S. Pradham. 2010. Fungi of Bhutan. National Mushroom Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Local Name: No local name known

Edibility: Unknown

Habitat: Lignicolous and gregarious.

Description: Cap: 3-5 cm, uplifted-depressed, dark brown-light brown with brownish scales, decurved when young and convex when matured, the texture of the margin is entire and tomentose surface, leathery texture context. Hymenophore: Pores like honey comb, decurrent, cream coloured and 2-3 pores per mm. Stem: 2-3 cm tall and 1-3 mm in width, bulbous in shape central in position and concolours with the cap, dry, white and solid. Flesh: White and very leathery. Spore Print: White.

Comments: This small size and fairly large pores plus the typically central stem characterize this attractive polypore. P.brumalis has much smaller pores. Microporellus dealbatus has a concentrically zoned cap and a central stalk; M. obovatus has a whitish, unzoned cap and central to lateral stalk. None of these have the black or half- back stem of P. elegans and P.badius. It is considered to have many medicinal properties.