Inonotus cuticularis

A fungus that produces annual, pileate basidiomata up to 20 cm wide, typically growing in imbricate clusters. The pileus is tomentose, with colouration ranging from yellowish-brown or brownish to rust-brown or reddish hues.

The hymenophore consists of rounded pores, 3 to 5 per mm, brownish to greyish in colour.

Microscopy reveals a hallmark feature that makes it readily identifiable: the setal hyphae of the pileipellis. These are very abundant, up to nearly 100 µm long, branched or hooked with up to 5 or 6 prongs.

An uncommon species fruiting on broadleaved wood, primarily on Quercus and Fagus, exhibiting both parasitic and saprophytic behaviour.

We have recorded it twice, both on dead wood of Fagus sylvatica: first in October in Orozko (Bizkaia), and secondly in Orduña (Bizkaia) in early June.

The microscopic images in this study correspond to the latter collection.