Polyporus melanopus

Polyporus melanopus (Pers.) Fr. (illustrated 40% life size) Cap 3–10cm across, convex with an even margin, then funnel-shaped or flattish with a wavy margin, which is rolled under in older specimens; bay-brown or purplish-brown with pale yellowish lines; smooth and velvety then very wrinkled, especially in centre. Stem 10–50×2–8mm, central or lateral; dark brown then black, white inside; velvety, becoming longitudinally wrinkled. Flesh about 1mm thick; white to cream. Tubes up to 3mm deep, decurrent in specimens with a lateral stem; cream to straw. Pores 4–7 per mm, round; whitish to cream at first then pale straw. Spores 6–8×3–4¼, cylindrical to oblong-elliptical; nonamyloid. Habitat on the ground or on buried wood; summer to early autumn. Rare. Not edible.