Coltricia cinnamomea

What You Should Know

Coltricia cinnamomea is a species of Fungi in the family Hymenochaetaceae. This vase-shaped polypore occurs commonly in the San Francisco Bay area under Monterey pines (Pinus radiatus). It is recognized by rusty-brown, often clustered fruiting bodies. The caps are usually faintly-zoned cap with appressed fibrils, in certain light sometimes appear to glisten. Coltricia perennis, found in the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere, differs in having a more distinctly-zoned cap, and a matted-tomentose surface.

Dried mushrooms of the Coltricia cinnamomea can be used as a natural fiber dye that gives brown-beige color.

Other names: Fairy Stool, Shiny Cinnamon Polypore.

Coltricia cinnamomea Mushroom Identification

1. Ecology

   Mycorrhizal, at least facultatively; possibly also saprobic; growing alone or in small groups under hardwoods in packed soil, often along paths and roadways; infrequently on deadwood; found east of the Rocky Mountains and on the West Coast.

2. Cap

   1-5 cm; more or less round in outline; flat or vase-shaped; dry; silky-shiny when fresh; cinnamon brown, usually with concentric bands of colors; the margin straight and thin, sometimes eroding in age.

3. Pore Surface

   Yellowish brown to brown or cinnamon brown; running down the stem or not; pores angular to circular, 2-3 per mm; tubes 3 mm deep at most; not bruising.

4. Stem

   1-5 cm long; 1-4 mm thick; dry; brown to cinnamon brown; velvety; more or less equal; tough.

5. Flesh

   Rusty brown to orange; thin; tough.

6. Chemical Reactions

   Flesh instantly black with KOH.

7. Spore Print

   Yellowish brown.

1. Microscopic Features

   Spores 6-10 x 4.5-7 µ; smooth; elliptical; weakly dextrinoid. Setae absent. Hyphal system is monomitic. Clamp connections absent.

2. Similar Species

   Coltricia perennis is larger and has duller brown colors; it is often found in burn sites and conifer woods.

Coltricia cinnamomea Medicinal Properties

Coltricia cinnamomea Synonyms

1. Boletus cinnamomeus Jacq., 1786

2. Strilia cinnamomea (Jacq.) Gray, 1821

3. Polyporus cinnamomeus (Jacq.) Pers., 1825

4. Polystictus cinnamomeus (Jacq.) Sacc., 1888

5. Pelloporus cinnamomeus (Jacq.) Quél., 1888

6. Pelloporus fimbriatus var. cinnamomeus (Jacq.) Quél., 1888

7. Microporus cinnamomeus (Jacq.) Kuntze, 1898

8. Xanthochrous cinnamomeus (Jacq.) Pat., 1900

9. Polystictus perennis f. cinnamomeus (Jacq.) Pilát, 1940

10. Polyporus parvulus Klotzsch, 1833

11. Polyporus cladonia Berk., 1845

12. Polyporus oblectans Berk., 1845

13. Polyporus bulbipes Fr., 1847

14. Polyporus splendens Peck, 1873

15. Polyporus casimirii Velen., 1922

16. Polyporus baudysii Kavina, 1922

17. Polyporus casimiri Velen., 1922

18. Polystictus perennis f. casimirii (Velen.) Pilát, 1942

19. Coltricia perennis f. casimirii (Velen.) Bondartsev, 1953

Sources:

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