Fomitopsis officinalis
| Laricifomes officinalis | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Polyporales |
| Family: | Fomitopsidaceae |
| Genus: | Laricifomes |
| Species: | L. officinalis |
| Binomial name | |
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Laricifomes officinalis (Vill.) Kotl. & Pouzar (1957) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Agaricum officinale (Vill.) Donk (1971) [1974] |
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Agaricum officinale (Vill.) Donk (1971) [1974]
Boletus agaricum Pollini (1824)
Boletus laricis F.Rubel (1778)
Boletus officinalis Vill. (1789)
Boletus officinalis (Vill.) Batsch, (1783)
Boletus purgans J.F.Gmel. (1792)
Cladomeris officinalis (Vill.) Quél. (1886)
Fomes fuscatus Lázaro Ibiza (1916)
Fomes officinalis (Vill.) Bres. (1931)
Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill.) Bondartsev & Singer (1941)
Piptoporus officinalis (Vill.) P.Karst. (1882)
Polyporus officinalis (Vill.) Fr. (1821)
Ungulina officinalis (Vill.) Pat. (1900)
Laricifomes officinalis is a wood-decay fungus in the order Polyporales. It causes brown heart rot on conifers, and is found in Europe, Asia, and North America, as well as Morocco. It is commonly known as agarikon, as well as the quinine conk because of its extremely bitter taste.DNA analysis supports L. officinalis as distinct from the genus Fomitopsis.
The conks were once collected extensively for production of medicinal quinine, which they were thought to contain, because of the bitter taste of the powdered conk. However, they do not contain quinine, and have no anti-malarial properties.
Decay is common only in a few old-growth stands. The distinctive conks can be large, as much as two feet long, hoof-shaped or columnar. They are soft, yellow-white when young, soon becoming white and chalky throughout. The decay is brown, cubically cracked, with thick white felts in large cracks. The taste of both conks and felts is bitter and distinct for this species. A single conk usually indicates complete cull. Infected trees can be habitat for snag-nesting species.
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