Fauna
Fungus

Milk-white Toothed Polypore

Irpex lacteus

Also known as Milk-white Tooth, Milk-white Tooth Crust, Toothed Crust Fungus

Milk-white toothed polypores form spreading crusts or small shelving caps on dead hardwood branches throughout temperate forests. The underside features a distinctive surface of flattened, tooth-like spines that release spores into forest breezes. As a prolific white-rot fungus, this species plays a crucial role in breaking down lignin and recycling nutrients back into woodland soils.

Wood DecayWhite RotTemperate Fungi
Milk-white Toothed Polypore reference1 / 7
(c) David Gorsline, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David Gorsline · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDead hardwood lignin, Dead hardwood cellulose
Predators
  • Fungus beetles
  • Springtails
  • Fungivorous fly larvae
ThreatsSevere forest clearing and removal of fallen deadwood
HabitatsDeciduous forests, mixed woodlands, and parks on dead hardwood branches
Life spanPersistent annual to short-lived perennial fruiting bodies
Classification
  1. OrderPolyporales
  2. FamilyIrpicaceae
  3. GenusIrpex
  4. SpeciesIrpex lacteus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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
  • Examine the Underside: Turn over dead hardwood branches to view the flattened, tooth-like spines beneath the white crust.
  • Check the Wood Type: Search specifically on decaying deciduous branches, where this saprobe thrives best.
  • Use Magnification: Bring a hand lens to inspect the intricate hydnoid tooth structures up close.
Related species
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