Birch Polypore
Fomitopsis betulina
Family: Fomitopsidaceae
Overview
Pale kidney-shaped bracket strictly on dead and dying birch across the temperate and boreal northern hemisphere. Famously carried by the Iceman (Ötzi) as a medicinal kit. Bitter — used as tea, tinder, and strop for sharpening blades, not as food.
Edibility
Inedible
Rarity
common
Trophic mode
parasitic-saprotrophic
Host trees & substrate
- Local forest substrate
Key identification features
- Pale tan kidney-shaped bracket on birch only
- Smooth white pore surface
- Soft when young, corky when old
See live fruiting predictions for Birch Polypore on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.
Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.