Fomitopsis betulina (Bull.) B.K. Cui, M.L. Han & Y.C. Dai
(Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)

Interactions where Fomitopsis betulina is the dominant partner and gains from the process

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Stage Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises dead, brown-rotten trunk UK/IrelandRestricted Betula birches Fagales: Betulaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
Attempts at active protection of Inonotus obliquus by inoculating birches with its mycelium, Pietka, J. & Grzywacz, A., 2006
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbody Foodplant / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Fagales/Betulaceae/Betula/Betulabirchesdead, brown-rottentrunkSole
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises dead, brown-rotten log UK/IrelandRestricted Betula birches Fagales: Betulaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
Attempts at active protection of Inonotus obliquus by inoculating birches with its mycelium, Pietka, J. & Grzywacz, A., 2006
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbody Foodplant / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Fagales/Betulaceae/Betula/Betulabirchesdead, brown-rottenlogSole
fruitbody fruitbody infects and damages live trunk UK/IrelandRestricted Betula birches Fagales: Betulaceae Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants, Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998
Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbody Foodplant / pathogenUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Fagales/Betulaceae/Betula/BetulabircheslivetrunkSole

Interactions where Fomitopsis betulina is the victim or passive partner (and generally loses out from the process)

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Filters:

Affected Part Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season Summary
(dead, decayed) dead, decayed fruitbody is decayed by fruitbody Rare Sistotrema hispanicum a basidiomycete fungus Cantharellales: Hydnaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Cantharellales/Hydnaceae/Sistotrema hispanicum/Sistotrema hispanicuma basidiomycete fungusfruitbody Fungus / saprobe /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusdead, decayedfruitbodyRare fruitbody is saprobic on dead, decayed fruitbody
(decaying) decaying bracket is parasitised by superficial stroma Major Trichoderma pulvinatum Ochre Cushion Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Trichoderma pulvinatum/Trichoderma pulvinatumochre cushionsuperficialstroma Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusdecayingbracketMajor superficial stroma parasitises decaying bracket
(old) old bracket is parasitised by subiculate perithecium Major Hypomyces aurantius Orange Polypore Mould Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces aurantius/Hypomyces aurantiusorange polypore mouldsubiculateperithecium Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusoldbracketMajor subiculate perithecium parasitises old bracket
(old) old bracket is parasitised by Cladobotryum anamorph Major Hypomyces aurantius Orange Polypore Mould Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces aurantius/Hypomyces aurantiusorange polypore mouldCladobotryum anamorph Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusoldbracketMajor Cladobotryum anamorph parasitises old bracket
bracket bracket is parasitised by compact colony of Penicillium anamorph Penicillium brevicompactum Rollrim Mould Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Eurotiomycetes/Eurotiales/Trichocomaceae/Penicillium brevicompactum/Penicillium brevicompactumrollrim mouldcompactcolonyPenicillium anamorph Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusbracket compact colony of Penicillium anamorph parasitises bracket
bracket bracket is parasitised by subiculate perithecium Hypomyces rosellus Pink Polypore Mould Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces rosellus/Hypomyces roselluspink polypore mouldsubiculateperithecium Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusbracket subiculate perithecium parasitises bracket
bracket bracket is parasitised by Cladobotryum anamorph Hypomyces rosellus Pink Polypore Mould Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces rosellus/Hypomyces roselluspink polypore mouldCladobotryum anamorph Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusbracket Cladobotryum anamorph parasitises bracket
fruitbody fruitbody may contain larva UK/IrelandMajor Cis bidentatus a small fungus beetle Coleoptera: Ciidae The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010
/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis bidentatus/Cis bidentatusa small fungus beetlelarva Fungus / internal feederUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbodyMajor larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody fruitbody may contain larva UK/Ireland Cis bilamellatus a small fungus beetle Coleoptera: Ciidae Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations, Bullock, J.A., 1992
The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010
/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis bilamellatus/Cis bilamellatusa small fungus beetlelarva Fungus / internal feederUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbody larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody fruitbody may contain larva UK/Ireland Cis boleti a small fungus beetle Coleoptera: Ciidae The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010
/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis boleti/Cis boletia small fungus beetlelarva Fungus / internal feederUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbody larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody fruitbody may contain larva UK/Ireland Cis castaneus a small fungus beetle Coleoptera: Ciidae The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010
/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis castaneus/Cis castaneusa small fungus beetlelarva Fungus / internal feederUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbody larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody fruitbody may contain larva UK/IrelandMajor Cis fagi a small fungus beetle Coleoptera: Ciidae The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010
/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis fagi/Cis fagia small fungus beetlelarva Fungus / internal feederUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbodyMajor larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody fruitbody may contain larva Diaperis boleti a darkling beetle Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations, Bullock, J.A., 1992
/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Tenebrionidae/Diaperis boleti/Diaperis boletia darkling beetlelarva Fungus / internal feeder /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Fomitopsis betulina/Fomitopsis betulinabirch polypore, razorstrop fungusfruitbody larva feeds within fruitbody

Author & YearTitleSource
Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden PlantsCollins Photoguide, 2nd edition edition, Collins
Bullock, J.A., 1992Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations11a, 24pp, Amateur Entomologists’ Society
Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook2nd (New Enlarged) edition, 246pp, The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd
Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota517pp, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impactBiological Invasions Vol 12: 515-530.
Pietka, J. & Grzywacz, A., 2006Attempts at active protection of Inonotus obliquus by inoculating birches with its myceliumActa Mycologica Vol 41 (2): 305-312.

Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus) may also be included in 'feeds on' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus) may also be included in 'fed on by' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesFomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)
GenusFomitopsis (a genus of bracket fungi)
FamilyFOMITOPSIDACEAE (a family of bracket fungi)
OrderPOLYPORALES (polypores)
SubclassAGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
ClassAGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumAGARICOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)

Identification Works

Handling & MagnificationAuthorYearTitleSource
Anderson, R. 2001 Fungi and Beetles - diversity within diversity Field Mycology Vol 2 (3): 82-87.
Schwarze, F. 1993 Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.: Fr.) Karsten - Birch Polypore or Razor-strop Fungus Wood Rotting Fungi Mycologist Vol 07 (3): 122-3.

Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

Literature listed under the following higher taxa may be relevant to Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus):

BioImagesBioImages (www.bioimages.org.uk) has 30 images of Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)

A very common parasite on Betula throughout the UK. It eventually kills the host and continues to fruit on the standing or fallen trunk. The pith of the fungus is pure white, very tough and finely fibrous. Thin slices were used at one time to cover razor-strops which were used for stropping (straightening the cutting edge of) cut-throat razors after sharpening. Strips of the pith were also used by entomologists for mounting insects under the name of "Polyporus Pith", before the days of Plastazote.

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