Lenzites betulinus (L.) Fr. is a fungus in the Polyporaceae family, order Polyporales, kingdom Fungi. Not known to be toxic.

Photo of Lenzites betulinus (L.) Fr. (Lenzites betulinus (L.) Fr.)
🍄 Fungi

Lenzites betulinus (L.) Fr.

Lenzites betulinus (L.) Fr.

Lenzites betulinus is an inedible tough polypore fungus with gills and researched medicinal properties.

Family
Genus
Lenzites
Order
Polyporales
Class
Agaricomycetes

About Lenzites betulinus (L.) Fr.

Lenzites betulinus (L.) Fr. is also classified under the synonym Trametes betulina. This fungus species has common names including gilled polypore, birch mazegill, and multicolor gill polypore. The caps of its fruiting bodies measure 2.5–13 centimetres (1–5 inches) wide. Although this species belongs to the order Polyporales, its fruiting bodies produce gills rather than pores. This gilled structure distinguishes it from two superficially similar species: Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsuta. Lenzites betulinus is considered inedible because it is extremely tough. Research has identified several medicinal properties associated with this fungus: it has antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunosuppressive activities.

Photo: (c) Jesse Holifield, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jesse Holifield · cc-by-nc

Taxonomy

Fungi Basidiomycota Agaricomycetes Polyporales Polyporaceae Lenzites

More from Polyporaceae

Sources: GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, NCBI Taxonomy · Disclaimer

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