Hoof Fungus

Fomes fomentarius (commonly known as the tinder fungus, false tinder fungus, hoof fungus, tinder conk, tinder polypore or ice man fungus) is a perennial wood-decay basidiomycete found in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. The species produces large, hoof-shaped polypore fruit bodies which vary in colour from silvery grey to almost black, though they are normally brown. It develops on the trunks of various hardwood species and is associated with the development of white rot in the underlying wood. It has traditionally been described as a plant pathogen, but experimental studies have also reported its occurrence as a latent stem endophyte within apparently healthy trees.

Though inedible, F. fomentarius has traditionally seen use as the main ingredient of amadou, a material used primarily as tinder, but also used to make clothing and other items. The 5,000-year-old Ötzi carried four pieces of F. fomentarius, supposedly for tinder.

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