Lenzites birch (Lenzites betulina)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
- Order: Polyporales
- Family: Polyporaceae (Polyporous)
- Genus: Lenzites (Lenzites)
- Species: Lenzites betulina (Lenzites birch)
Birch Lenzites has many synonyms:
- Lencites birch;
- Trametess birch;
- Cellularia cinnamomea;
- Cellularia junghuhnii;
- Daedalea cinnamomea;
- Daedalea variegata;
- Gloeophyllum hirsutum;
- Lenzites flaccidus;
- Lenzites pinastri;
- Merulius betulinus;
- Sesia hirsuta;
- Trametes betulina.
Lenzites birch (Lenzites betulina) – a variety of mushrooms belonging to the Polyporaceae family, genus Lenzites. This type of fungus belongs to the category of parasites that cause white rot in natural wood, as well as destroying foundations in wooden houses that have not been treated with antiparasitic compounds. The spread of birch lenzites indicates a serious human impact on the environment.
External description of the mushroom
Mushroom Lenzites birch (Lenzites betulina) has a fruiting body without a stem, annual, thin and characterized by a semi-rosette form. Often, mushrooms of this species are located in whole tiers on a fertile substrate. The edges of the caps are sharp, with parameters 1-52-10 cm. The upper surface of the cap is a zoned part, the surface of which is covered with a felt, hairy or velvety edge. Initially, it is white, but gradually the pubescence darkens, becomes creamy or grayish. Often, the edge becomes covered with algae of various colors as it darkens.
The pores that make up the hymenophore of the fungus are located radially and have a lamellar shape. The pores intertwine with each other, strongly branch, initially have a whitish color, gradually acquire a yellow-ocher or light cream shade. Fungal spores are not colored, characterized by the thinnest walls with dimensions of 5-62-3 microns and a cylindrical shape.
Habitat and fruiting season
Lenzites birch (Lenzites betulina) is most often found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere of the planet. This mushroom is one of the saprotrophs, so it prefers to live on stumps, deadwood and dead wood. Most often, of course, mushrooms of this species settle on birch trees. The fruiting body is annual; it was originally believed that it grows only on birches. Actually, that is why the mushrooms were named birch lenzites. However, later it turned out that the Lenzites growing on other tree species also belong to the described variety.
Edibility
There are no poisonous components in the composition of Lenzites, and the taste of this species is not too unpleasant. However, fruiting bodies are very hard, and therefore this mushroom cannot be considered edible.
Similar species, distinctive features from them
If we look at the birch lenzites from above, then it strongly resembles some varieties of mushrooms of the Trametes species (Trametes is harsh, multicolored trametes). However, the differences between them can be easily identified by the lamellar hymenophore. Its color is slightly darker in Lenzites birch.
Several other species of Lenzites mushrooms grow in Russia. These include Lenzites Varnier, which grows in the southern parts of Siberia, in the Krasnodar Territory and the Far East. It is characterized by the large thickness of the fruit bodies and hymenophore plates. There is also Lensites spicy, belonging to the Far Eastern varieties of mushrooms. Its fruiting bodies are dark in color, and the flesh is creamy.
Interesting about the origin of the name
For the first time, the description of Lesites Birch was described by the scientist Karl Linnaeus, as part of a composite genus of lamellar mushrooms. In 1838, the Swedish mycologist Elias Fries, based on this description, created a new one – for the Lesites family. Its name was chosen in honor of the mycologist from Germany Harald Lenz. In the scientific community, this mushroom is often called the female name betulina, given originally by the scientist Fries. However, in accordance with the International Code, which provides for the rules for the nomenclature of mushrooms and plants, their genera ending in -ites should be represented only in the masculine gender, regardless of the genus in which their name was originally presented. Thus, the name Lenzites betulinus is correct for the fungi of the described species.
Photo of the Lenzites birch mushroom from the recognition questions:
2018.11.11 Alexander 
2020.01.22 Vitalij 
2019.12.21 Alexander Kozlovskikh
