Polyporus umbellatus
Polyporus umbellatus is an edible species of mushroom. It is also called umbrella polypore.
Description
The fruit body is composed of numerous caps. They are across, deeply umbilicate, light brown, and form the extremities of a strong, many branched stalk. The compound fungus can be up to 40 cm in diameter. The pores are decurrent, narrow and whitish. The stalk is whitish grey,, and originates from a strong, underground, tuber-like nodule. The flesh is white and soft, hardening with age. The spore print is white.Similar species
The caps of Grifola frondosa are less consistently sized and those of Armillaria tabescens have gills.Habitat and distribution
The species grows on roots of old beeches or oak. It can be found in eastern North America from May to September.Uses
It is a choice edible mushroom.Bioactive compounds
Polyporus umbellatus may contain bioactive compounds with immunostimulating, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties.The sclerotia stage of the fungal life cycle is the one used in Chinese medicine, and a 79.74 Mb reference genome was sequenced to better understand its formation.