Piptoporus saprophyte or parasite?

[Tony Irwin]

Dear Jan,

Macdonald, 1937 Annals of Applied Biology 24:289-310 - deals
with the biology of P.betulinus. (I haven't seen this ref.).
Ellis, M.B. & Ellis, J.P. 1990 Fungi without gills (Hymenomycetes
and gasteromycetes) London: Chapman & Hall. p.154 - state
"Parasitic on trunks of Betula...".
Ryvarden, L. 1978 The Polyporaceae of North Europe Volume 2.
Inonotus - Tyromyces. Oslo: Fungiflora. p.375 - records it as "On
dead Betula sp." [implying saprophytic?]
Wakefield, E.M. & Dennis, R.G.W. 1950 Common British Fungi.
London: P.R.Gawthorn Ltd. p.229 - state "On living and dead
trunks of birch; ... The fungus causes a decay of the sap-wood and
eventual death of the tree."
Buczacki, S.T. & Harris, K.M.1981 Collins guide to the Pests,
Diseases and Disorders of Garden Plants. London: Collins. - make
the observation that "the distinction between saprophytes and
parasites is not always easy among decay fungi however as the
heart wood of trees is actually dead tissue while the sapwood is
living. Exposure of the heartwood of trees may therefore permit
saprophytic decay fungi to enter and cause structural weakness or
other damage to still-living trees." They go on to suggest that "P.
betulinus probably only attacks already weakened trees..."

This doesn't really help much, does it?

Tony Irwin
Norfolk Museums Service
The Shirehall
Norwich
Norfolk NR1 3JQ
England
Tel: (0)1603 493642
Mobile: 07880707834
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E-mail: tony.irwin. at btinternet.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Bosselaers" <dochterland at VILLAGE.UUNET.BE>
To: <TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG>
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 7:48 PM
Subject: Piptoporus saprophyte or parasite?


> Dear Taxacomers,
>
> I would be very grateful for any help in finding literature references
> on the question whether the basidiomycete Piptoporus betulinus is mainly
> a saprophyte or a parasite.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Jan