Fauna
Fungus

Tinder Fungus

Fomes fomentarius

Also known as Hoof Fungus, Tinder Polypore, Ice Man Fungus, Tinder Bracket

Tinder fungus forms tough, hoof-shaped brackets that cling to the sides of weakened or dying hardwoods, particularly birch and beech. Famous for its fibrous interior layer known as amadou, humans have harvested this fungus for thousands of years to preserve embers and manufacture felt-like garments. Within forest ecosystems, it breaks down tough lignin to produce soft white rot, creating crucial roosting cavities for woodland birds and insects.

Wood-DecayingBracket FungusPerennial
Tinder Fungus reference1 / 7
(c) Jamie Griffiths, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jamie Griffiths · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyHardwood timber, Birch wood, Beech wood
Predators
  • Fungus beetles
  • Darkling beetles
  • Moth larvae
ThreatsRemoval of old-growth trees and standing deadwood
HabitatsTemperate deciduous forests and boreal woodlands
Life spanPerennial (fruit bodies survive 10–30 years)
Classification
  1. OrderPolyporales
  2. FamilyPolyporaceae
  3. GenusFomes
  4. SpeciesFomes fomentarius
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
  • Observation: Look for the distinctive hoof shape growing horizontally from birch or beech trunks.
  • Identification: Feel the hard, woody outer crust, which features concentric growth ridges marking each year.
  • Conservation: Leave living brackets attached to deadwood to support specialized forest insects.
Related species
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