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Polypores are a group of tough, leathery poroid mushrooms similar to boletes, but typically lacking a distinct stalk. The technical distinction between the two types of mushrooms is that polypores do not have the spore-bearing tissue continuous along the entire underside of the mushroom. Many polypores are bracket fungi. The polypore growth form exists in many different evolutionary lines of higher basidiomycetes. Although many polypore species are members of the Polyporales, there are many polypores that belong to other groups as well.
Polypores are often found on rotting logs[1], and are rot-resistant to the extent that they themselves often last long enough to have moss growing on them.
Owing to their texture, edible polypores are quite common, and there are no poisonous species [1]. Some, however, have been used in ritual and for utilitarian purposes for ages; the famous Ötzi the Iceman was found carrying two different polypore species. One was notablecitation needed for its antibacterial properties. The other was likelycitation needed used for starting fires.
Two medicinal polypores in use today are Ganoderma lucidum (reishi or lingzhi) and Trametes versicolor. Beyond their traditional use in herbal medicine, contemporary research has suggested many applications polypores for the treatment of illnesses related to the immune system and cancer recovery.
Gallery
 Polypores growing on the trunk of a birch tree |
 Colorful Trametes versicolor growing on a fallen hardwood log |
 Polypores growing upon a fallen tree |
 Tinder Bracket (Fomes fomentarius) |
References
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