You’ve probably seen mushrooms growing on tree trunks on numerous occasions.

These are called a polypore, which is a name for the variety of fungi that grow on trees and on the sides of tree trunks. Polypores lead a parasitic lifestyle as they feed off of both living and dead trees. They have a very distinct shape, which resemble a shelf or a hoof.

Depending on the species of mushroom, polypores can either be edible or inedible. It is quite difficult to find poisonous mushrooms here. However, keep in mind that many mushrooms can be poisonous when they are raw.

Edible polypores include: oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus,) Crab-of-the-woods (Laetiporus sulphureus,) wood ears (Auricularia auricula-judae,) dryad’s sadle (Cerioporus aquamosus,) and cauliflower fungi (Sparassis crispa.)

The most famous polypores include species such as the: Hoof fungus (Fomes fomentarius,) root rot (Heterobasidion annosum,) red-belted conk (Fomitopis pinicola,) and the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus.)

Hey, Explorer!

Take a close look at the tree trunks in the Las Odkrywców. Take photos of the polypores you encounter, once home, use the internet to try to determine which species they belong to.