BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.) P. Karst., 1881 (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)
| Notes (MWS) | A very common parasite on *Betula* throughout the UK. It eventually kills the host and continues to fruit on the standing or fallen trunk. The pith of the fungus is pure white, very tough and finely fibrous. Thin slices were used at one time to cover razor-strops which were used for stropping (straightening the cutting edge of) cut-throat razors after sharpening. Strips of the pith were also used by entomologists for mounting insects under the name of "Polyporus Pith", before the days of Plastazote. |
Records (and photo sets)
| Taxon | Summary | Date | Vice-county | Country |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piptoporus betulinus | Fruitbody | 9 September 2001 | Berks | England | 5 | ||
| Piptoporus betulinus | Fruitbody | 21 October 2000 | Berks | England | 3 | ||
| Piptoporus betulinus | Fruitbody | 14 October 1999 | Berks | England | 6 | 10 | 4 |
| Piptoporus betulinus | Fruitbody | 9 October 1971 | North-east Yorkshire | England | 1 | ||
| Piptoporus betulinus | Fruitbody | 3 April 1970 | South-east Yorkshire | England | 1 |
Suggested Literature
Identification Works
| Anderson, R., 2001 (Colour photograph) | Fungi and Beetles - diversity within diversity |
Piptoporus betulinus may also be covered by literature listed under:
Feeding and other inter-species relationships
Piptoporus betulinus is associated with:
 |
fruitbody | Betula - birches (Betulaceae) | fruitbody parasitises dead log | 
|
Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005 [parasitic then saprobic] |
|
fruitbody | Betula - birches (Betulaceae) | fruitbody parasitises dead trunk |
|
Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005 [parasitic then saprobic] |
|
fruitbody | Betula - birches (Betulaceae) | fruitbody parasitises live trunk |
|
Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005 [parasitic then saprobic] |
Associated with Piptoporus betulinus:
Piptoporus betulinus may be associated with more taxa listed at higher taxonomic level
|
MYCETEAE (fungi, moulds and lichens) |
BASIDIOMYCETES (spore droppers) |
POLYPORALES (polypores) |
References
| Bullock, J.A., 1992 | Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations |
| Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998 | Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook |
| Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005 | Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota |
