Species details
Cinnabar polypore
Pycnoporus cinnabarinus
Inedible
Photo: Dan Molter (shroomydan) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · License
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Description
A striking cinnabar-red bracket fungus with equally bright fine pores.
Identification features
The cap is 3–6 cm wide, bracket-shaped, bright cinnabar to orange-red and slightly velvety when young, later smoother and fading. Pores are fine and also red.
Identification checklist
Almost the whole fruitbody, including the pores, is characteristically cinnabar red.
How to separate similar species
Its uniformly vivid red colour makes it highly distinctive among common European wood fungi.
Habitat
Grows on dead branches, trunks and stumps of broadleaved trees, especially in sunny sites, mainly in summer and autumn; fruitbodies may persist through winter.
Fruiting period
June, July, August, September, October, November
Similar species
- Pycnoporus species
- Trametes species
- Hapalopilus species