Albatrellus ovinus explained

Albatrellus ovinus is a terrestrial fungus found in Europe and North America. Although commonly known as sheep polypore, this fungus is not phylogenetically related to Polyporales (shelf fungi).

It similar to A. subrubescens, from which it may be distinguished microscopically.

Description

The cap is NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) wide, convex then flat or depressed, and white then tan or pinkish. The surface is dry and smooth but cracks with age.^[1] The whitish stalk is NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) tall and NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) wide, perhaps branching, with an equal or larger base.^[2] The spore print is white.

Similar species

The inedible, closely related and comparatively rare Albatrellus subrubescens^[3] has subtle color differences from A. ovinus, and the only spores of the former are amyloid.^{[4] [5]}

Also similar are Albatrellus flettii, Jahnoporus hirtus, Scutiger ellisii, and S. pes-caprae.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in northern Europe and in North America. In the latter, it is found from the Pacific Northwest to Northern California, in addition to the Mountain states, the Great Lakes area, the Appalachians, and the Northeast.

Uses

The species may be edible if cooked, but is not recommended by some guides. It is sold commercially in Finland.^{[6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Davis. R. Michael. Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Sommer. Robert. Menge. John A.. University of California Press. 2012. 978-0-520-95360-4. Berkeley. 339–340. 797915861.
2. Book: [[Audubon]] . Mushrooms of North America . . 2023 . 978-0-593-31998-7 . 158.
3. Hibbett DS, Pine EM, Langer E, Langer G, Donoghue MJ . 1997 . Evolution of gilled mushrooms and puffballs inferred from ribosomal DNA sequences . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 94 . 22 . 12002–6 . 1997PNAS...9412002H . 10.1073/pnas.94.22.12002 . 23683 . 9342352 . free.
4. W. Julich, 1984: Die Nichtblatterpilze, Gallertpilze und Bauchpilze. Kleine Kryptogamenflora Band II Teil b/1
5. J. Breitenbach, F. Kranzlin, 1986: Pilze der Schweiz, Band 2. Nichtblatterpilze.
6. Book: Phillips, Roger . Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America . Firefly Books . 2010 . 978-1-55407-651-2 . Buffalo, NY . 295.
7. Book: Pelkonen . Riina . Element Concentrations in Wild Edible Mushrooms in Finland . Alfthan . Georg . Järvinen . Olli . Finnish Environment Institute . 2008 . 978-952-11-3153-0 . Helsinki . 32 . 2009-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928125244/http://www.ymparisto.fi/download.asp?contentid=87635 . 2011-09-28 . dead.