Pycnoporus coccineus.
Pycnoporus is a genus of Polypore fungi causing white rot.
They are closely related to the Trametes which lack a bright red fruiting body.
There are 5 species including:
- Pycnoporus coccineus and Pycnoporus sanguineus which are found in Australia and
- Pycnoporus cinnabarinus which is an uncommon Northern Hemisphere species.
All are very similar macroscopically and need microscopy to distinguish them.
Pycnoporus coccineus.
Synonyms include Polyporus coccineus and Trametes coccinea.
A very common bracket fungus usually found in large groups on dead wood, especially Melaleuca.
The bright red mycelium spreads throughout the wood.
The cap usually has a lateral attachment but occasionally a short stalk.
Leathery brackets are fan-shaped or semi-circular, up to 10 cm wide, 7 cm deep and often fuse together.
They can be thin or up to 2 cm thick.
The upper surface is a bright orange-red which may fade in sunlight to a pale pinkish-red and occasionally a greyish-white.
When young the surface may be smooth or have fine hairs.
It becomes wrinkled, nodular or pitted with age.
The margin is rounded in young specimens but more acute in older ones.
The pore layer is bright red and does not fade with age.
The spore print is white.
J.F.
