Lab 5 Journal Entry

Trichaptum abietinum, or purplespore brackets, is a species of porus fungus. It has variable shapes, but are often sharply reflexed (bracket like), and has slight hints of purple on its surface. The genus name Trichaptum means 'with clinging hairs', and abietinum means ‘trees of the Abies genus. This means that this species is usually found on trees. More specifically, it is saprobic on dead timber of conifers, particularly firs and spruces. Saprobic means that the fungus obtains food by absorbing dissolved organic material. The purplespore brackets are not edible and does not have significant odor or taste. It has a fertile and infertile surface. The infertile surface has individual caps grow to between 1 and 5cm in diameter and are typically 1 to 4mm thick. Often growing in tiers and fusing together, the stemless caps are broadly attached to the host tree. The upper surface is lumpy and covered in fine hairs. It is zoned in shades of grey and light brown tinged with purple, and often stained green with algae especially near to the attachment region. While the fertile surface is a bright purple surface at first, which then slowly fades into a brown color with purple tones. Some species of bracket fungus (not purple spore fungus) has been used in Chinese herbal medicine to boost the immune system and for its anti-tumor properties.

Posted on October 6, 2021 09:56 PM by eileen_hu