Nigroporus vinosus

[ Basidiomycetes > Polyporales > Polyporaceae > Nigroporus . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

This tropical and subtropical polypore is easily recognized by the purplish color of its cap and pore surface. As it ages, however, it becomes more or less brown; mature specimens can be identified on the basis of the very tiny pores (7-8 pores per mm), the southeastern distribution, and microscopic features (see below).

Although the range of Nigroporus vinosus is primarily limited to the tropics, the Gulf Coast, and the lower east coast of the United States, the illustrated specimens were found in southern Missouri, in the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, which represents the northern tip of the Mississippi River cypress swamps.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on the decaying wood of hardwoods (especially oaks and sweet gum) or, more rarely, conifers; causing a white rot; growing alone or gregariously; late summer and fall; tropical and subtropical.

Cap: 2-10 cm across; flat or depressed; semicircular or kidney-shaped in outline; dry; finely velvety or felty when young, becoming smooth with age; purple-brown to pinkish tan when young, becoming dark brown or purplish brown with age; sometimes with concentric zones of color or texture; margin thin, pinkish when young.

Pore Surface: Pinkish purple when young, becoming purple to purplish brown; with 7-8 round pores per mm; tubes to 3 mm deep.

Stem: Absent.

Flesh: Thin; leathery; dark brown to pinkish or purplish brown.

Spore Print: White.

Chemical Reactions: All parts black with KOH.

Microscopic Features: Spores 3.5-4.5 x 1-1.5 µ; smooth; cylindrical to sausage-shaped; inamyloid. Cystidia absent. Hyphal system dimitic.

REFERENCES: (Berkeley, 1852), Murrill, 1905. (Saccardo, 1888; Overholts, 1953; Gilbertson & Ryvarden, 1987; Bessette, Miller, Bessette & Miller, 1995.) Herb. Kuo 09180402.

Further Online Information:

Nigroporus vinosus at Basidiomycetes of the Greater Antilles

© MushroomExpert.Com

Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2004, November). Nigroporus vinosus. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/nigroporus_vinosus.html