Fungus · GBIF taxon 10825597
Northern Red Belt
Fomitopsis mounceaeAlso known as Red-Belt Conk, Northern Red-Belted Conk, Banded Conk
Northern red belt conks form thick, shelf-like fruiting bodies that linger on dead or dying conifer logs across North American forests. Their resinous tops feature distinctive bands of orange, bright red, and mahogany, bounded by a pale growing margin that exudes clear liquid droplets during periods of rapid growth. As crucial decomposers, these perennial fungi break down cellulose to produce brown rot, recycling vital carbon and creating hollow nesting habitat for woodland wildlife.
Wood-decayingPerennialForest Fungus
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Dead wood cellulose
- Lignin
- Conifer timber
Predators
- Fungus-beetles
- Slugs
- Rodents
ThreatsDeforestation, severe wildfire, and widespread clear-cutting
HabitatsBoreal and temperate conifer forests, decaying logs, and tree trunks
Life spanPerennial (fruiting body survives for decades)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPolyporales
- FamilyFomitopsidaceae
- GenusFomitopsis
- SpeciesFomitopsis mounceae
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Observe Cap Layers: Count the annual ridges on the body to estimate the bracket's age.
- Look for Guttation: Check active growing margins in humid weather for clear liquid droplets.
- Examine Wood Texture: Inspect nearby decaying logs to see the cubical brown rot left behind.
Co-occurring Bracket no rights reserved · cc0
Host Tree (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) pinonbistro, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by pinonbistro · cc-by-sa
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