Black foot polypore

Picipes badius

Picipes badius is a wood-decay fungus. An inedible fungus, Picipes badius, is widely distributed in temperate forests and grows on the deadwood of hardwood trees, including fallen trunks, logs, and stumps. It features a tough, shelf-like fruiting body with a smooth to velvety brown upper surface and a distinctly dark, almost black, stipe base. This melanized stipe not only contributes to the common name Black Foot Polypore but also enhances the structural integrity and environmental stress resistance of the fungus, enabling it to survive over several seasons [1][2].

Ecologically, Picipes badius plays a significant role as a hardwood decomposer. It helps in breaking down lignin and cellulose, thereby releasing nutrients back into the soil. As a long-term wood decomposer, it contributes to soil formation and improves soil structure, which benefits forest stability and health. Picipes badius supports both microbial and plant communities by bridging the gap between the decompositional and regenerative stages of forest succession [2][3].

Typical of many wood decomposers, Picipes badius symbolizes the often-unseen but crucial work of fungi that converts the complex structures of large trees into fertile ground for future plant life [4][5].

[1] Kuo, Michael.  “Picipes badius.” MushroomExpert.com. https://mushroomexpert.com/polyporus_badius.html

[2] JungleDragon.  “Black-footed Polypore (Picipes badius).” JungleDragon Species Database. https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/7855/black-footed_polypore.html

[3] Runnel, Kadri, Ott Lõhmus, and Asko Lõhmus.“Polypore Fungi as a Flagship Group to Indicate Changes in Biodiversity – A Test Case from Estonia.” IMA Fungus 12 (2021): 18. https://imafungus.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s43008-020-00050-y.

[4] Blanchette, Robert A.“Wood Decay: The Action Behind the Polypores.” FUNGI Magazine, Winter 2018–2019 (Vol. 11, No. 4).https://www.fungimag.com/winter-2018-2019-articles/Wood%20Decay.pdf.

[5] Wikipedia contributors.“Picipes badius.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Last modified August 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picipes_badius