About Phlebia radiata Fr.
Phlebia radiata Fr. produces fruit bodies that are resupinate, growing flattened against their substrate like a crust. The fruit bodies are wrinkled, range in color from orange to pinkish, and have a waxy texture. They can be circular or irregular in shape, reaching diameters of up to 10 cm (4 in). Neighboring fruit bodies may fuse together to form larger complexes, which can grow up to 30 cm (12 in) across. The soft flesh of the fruit body hardens as it ages. Spores appear white when produced in mass. Microscopic examination shows the spores are smooth, allantoid (sausage-shaped) to elliptical, inamyloid, and measure 3.5–7 by 1–3 μm. This fungus is inedible. Phlebia radiata is a saprophytic species that causes white rot in the wood it colonizes, specifically fallen logs and branches of both coniferous and hardwood trees. It is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere.
