Willow bracket
Phellinus igniarius
The willow bracket is a perennial wood-decay fungus that grows primarily on deciduous trees, especially willows. It produces woody, hoof-shaped fruiting bodies with a dark, often cracked upper surface and a brownish pore layer underneath. As a white-rot pathogen, it decomposes both lignin and cellulose, playing a significant role in the lifecycle of riparian and deciduous forests.
Details
Identification
Hoof- or bracket-shaped, upper surface grey to black and cracked, underside with cinnamon-brown pores, context very hard and woody.
Diet
Feeds parasitically on living deciduous trees or saprobically on deadwood; causes white rot.
Overwintering
Perennial fruiting bodies survive the winter in an active or dormant state.
Ecology
Ecological role
Important primary decomposer; creates nesting opportunities for cavity-nesting birds like woodpeckers through wood decay.
Natural predators
Various specialized beetle species (e.g., family Ciidae) and mites.
Competitor species
Other wood-decay fungi such as the tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius) or the artist's bracket.
Ecosystem service
Nutrient recycling in forest ecosystems and promoting biodiversity through habitat creation.
Threats
Removal of old and dead wood in forestry; drainage of riparian habitats.
Scientific profile
Profile
Distinguishing features
Characterized by its hoof-shaped form, cracked dark crust, and preferred occurrence on willow (Salix). Microscopically identified by the presence of brown, thorn-like setae (12–20 x 5–9 µm) in the hymenium and inamyloid spores (5.5–7 x 4.5–6 µm).
Habitat
Riparian forests, riverside vegetation, parks, gardens, and moist deciduous mixed forests.
Reproduction
Sexual reproduction via basidiospores formed in the tube layers and released through the pores.
Protection & threats
Main threats
Loss of riparian forests due to river channelization, removal of old-growth and dead wood in parks and managed forests.
Conservation measures
Protection of floodplain habitats, preservation of habitat trees (especially old willows), and promotion of natural river dynamics.