Phaeolus schweinitzii

Phaeolus schweinitzii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Phylum:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Basidiomycetes
Subclass:	Agaricomycetidae
Order:	Polyporales
Family:	Polyporaceae
Genus:	Phaeolus
Species:	P. schweinitzii
Binomial name
Phaeolus schweinitzii (Fr.) Pat., (1900)

Phaeolus schweinitzii, commonly known as velvet-top fungus, dyer's polypore,Norway Chicken, or dyer's mazegill, is a fungal plant pathogen that causes butt rot on conifers such as Douglas-fir, spruce, fir, hemlock, pine, and larch.^[1] P. schweinitzii is a polypore, although unlike bracket fungi the fruiting body may appear terrestrial when growing from the roots or base of the host tree. The fruiting bodies, appearing in late summer or fall, commonly incorporate blades of grass, twigs, or fallen pine needles as they grow. As these fruiting bodies age, the pore surface turns from yellow to greenish yellow, the top becomes darker, and the flesh becomes harder and more wood-like.^[2]

P. schweinitzii is native to North America and Eurasia^[1], and has been identified as an exotic species in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.^[3]

As its common name suggests, the dyer's polypore is an excellent natural source of green, yellow, gold, or brown dye, depending on the material dyed and the mordant used.^[4][2]

P. schweinitzii is named after Lewis David de Schweinitz, a Pennsylvania-born Moravian minister and important early American mycologist.

External links

• Index Fungorum
• USDA ARS Fungal Database

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hagle, Susan K.; Filip, Gregory M. (March 2010). [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/fid/fidls/fidl-177.pdf "Schweinitzii Root and Butt Rot of Western Conifers"] (pdf). Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet (USDA Forest Service) (177). http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/fid/fidls/fidl-177.pdf. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Volk, Tom; Hanmer, Debby (November 2007). "Phaeolus schweinitzii, the dye polypore or velvet-top fungus". Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month. http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/nov2007.html. Retrieved 2011-01-14. 
3. ^ "Exotic Wood Decay Fungus on Pine". Forest Health News (Scion) (126). February 2003. http://www.nzffa.org.nz/images/design/diseases/Phaeolus-schweinitzii/Phaeolus-schweinitziiFHnews126.html. 
4. ^ "Dyeing with Mushrooms". Mushroom-Collecting.com. http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomdyeing.html. Retrieved 2009-10-26.