Fomitopsis cajanderi (Karst.) Kotl. et Pouz.
Ceska Mykol. 11: 157. 1957.

Common Name: none

Synonym: Fomes subroseus

• Sporocarp

  Fruiting body annual or short-lived perennial, sessile, 4-10 cm broad, 1.5-2 cm thick, resupinate, forming a fan-shaped, slightly convex, thin bracket, several often sharing a common base; margin entire, undulate or lobed, the latter often the result of emerging new growth; surface at first matted-hairy, becoming smooth, bumpy or warted, sometimes concentrically furrowed, mahogany-brown to dark-brown, usually pinkish at the margin when fresh, nearly black towards the base; flesh thin, pliant, dingy pink when fresh, woody, and dingy pinkish-brown in age, blackening in KOH; odor and taste mild.

• Pores

  Pores 3-4 per mm, pale to dark pink, pinkish-brown in age, tubes multi-seried, 2-3 mm long, dingy pink.

• Spores

  Spores 5.5-7.0 x 1.5-2.0 µm, smooth, allantoid (curved cylindrical); spore print off-white.

• Habitat

  Scattered or forming overlapping shelves on downed conifer wood; fresh fruitings emerging from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Inedible, woody.

• Comments

  Though not the most common of our local conks, Fomitopsis cajanderi is easily the prettiest. The mahogany-brown to almost black shelves of fresh Fomitopsis cajanderi with contrasting rose-pink margins and pores are a visual delight. In age the pink color becomes muted but specimens are still easily recognized.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Wood: Fomitopsis cajanderi (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Fomitopsis cajanderi (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Fomitopsis cajanderi (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Fomitopsis cajanderi (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Fomitopsis cajanderi (CP) -- young sporocarps exuding drops of liquid
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Fomitopsis cajanderi (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 580 (D)
  • Gilbertson & Ryvarden (1986): p. 269 (D), p. 270 (I)
  • Lincoff: p. 458 (D), plate 524 (CP)
  • Phillips: p. 264 (CP), p. 265 (D)

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)