Neofavolus alveolaris

Neofavolus alveolaris (DC.) Sotome & T. Hatt., 2016 (syn: Boletus mori (Pollini) Pollini, 1816; Cantharellus alveolaris (DC.) Fr., 1821; Daedalea broussonetiae Re ex Cappelli 1827; Favolus canadensis Klotzsch, 1832; Favolus kauffmanii Lloyd, 1916; Favolus mori (Pollini) Fr., 1825; Favolus peponinus Lloyd, 1917; Favolus striatulus Ellis & Everh., 1897; Favolus whetstonei Lloyd, 1916; Hexagonia alveolaris (DC.) Murrill, 1904; Hexagonia mori Pollini, 1816; Hexagonia striatula (Ellis & Everh.) Murrill, 1907; Merulius alveolaris DC., 1815; Polyporellus alveolaris (DC.) Pilát, 1936; Polyporus alveolaris (DC.) Bondartsev & Singer, 1941; Polyporus favoloides Doass. & Pat., 1880; Polyporus mori (Pollini) Fr., 1821; Polyporus tenuiparies Laferr. & Gilb., 1990);

Polyporus alveolaris, commonly known as the hexagonal-pored polypore,^[3] is a species of fungus in the genus Polyporus. It causes a white rot of dead hardwoods. Found on sticks and decaying logs, its distinguishing features are its yellowish to orange scaly cap, and the hexagonal or diamond-shaped pores.

It is widely distributed in North America, and also found in Asia, Australia, and Europe.

The fruit bodies of P. alveolaris are 1–10 cm (0.4–3.9 in) in diameter, rounded to kidney- or fan-shaped. Fruit bodies sometimes have stems, but they are also found attached directly to the growing surface. The cap surface is dry, covered with silk-like fibrils, and is an orange-yellow or reddish-orange color, which weathers to cream to white. The context is thin (2 mm), tough, and white. Tubes are radially elongates, with the pore walls breaking down in age. The pores are large—compared to other species in this genus—typically 0.5–3 mm wide, angular (diamond-shaped) or hexagonal; the pore surface is a white to buff color. The stipe, if present, is 0.5–2 cm long by 1.5–5 mm thick, placed either laterally or centrally, and has a white to tan color. The pores extend decurrently on the stipe. The spore deposit is white.

Spores are narrowly elliptical and smooth, hyaline, with dimensions of 11–14.5 × 4–5 µm. The basidia are club-shaped and four-spored, with dimensions of 28–42 × 7–9 µm.^[6]

Polyporus craterellus bears a resemblance to P. alveolaris, but the former species has a more prominent stalk and does not have the reddish-orange colors observed in the latter.^[7]

Opinions are divided on the edibility of this species. One source describes P. alveolaris as inedible,^[5] while others say “edible but tough”.^[8]

Polyporus alveolaris is found growing singly or grouped together on branches and twigs of hardwoods, commonly on shagbark hickory in the spring and early summer.^[9] It has been reported growing on the dead hardwoods of genera Acer,Castanea, Cornus, Corylus, Cratageus, Erica, Fagus, Fraxinus, Juglans, Magnolia, Morus, Populus, Pyrus, Robinia, Quercus, Syringa, Tilia, and Ulmus.^[10]

(From Wikipedia on 15.9.13)