''Phellinus'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

in the family

Hymenochaetaceae The ''Hymenochaetaceae'' are a family (biology), family of fungi in the order Hymenochaetales. The family contains several species that are implicated in many diseases of broad-leaved and coniferous trees, causing heart rot, canker and root disea ...

. Many species cause white rot. Fruit bodies, which are found growing on wood, are resupinate, sessile, and

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

. The flesh is tough and woody or cork-like, and brown in color. Clamp connections are absent, and the skeletal

hypha A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one o ...

e are yellowish-brown. The name ''Phellinus'' means ''cork''. The species '' Phellinus ellipsoideus'' (previously ''Fomitiporia ellipsoidea'') produced the largest ever fungal fruit body. Phellinin_a-B

''Phellinus'' species produce a number of natural chemicals which are of interest to science. These include the natural

phenol Phenol (also known as carbolic acid, phenolic acid, or benzenol) is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile and can catch fire. The molecule consists of a phenyl group () ...

hispidin, bio-active styrylpyrones called phelligridins, and bio-active isolates called phellinins.

Uses

In Australia, Indigenous Australians have used ''Phellinus'' fruit bodies medicinally. The smoke from burning fruit bodies was inhaled by those with sore throats. Scrapings from slightly charred fruit bodies were drunk with water to treat coughing, sore throats, "bad chests", fevers and diarrhoea. There is some uncertainty about which species of ''Phellinus'' were used.

Species

, ''

Index Fungorum ''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names (scientific names) in the fungus kingdom. As of 2015, the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partners along with Landcare Research and th ...

'' lists 81 species in the genus ''Phellinus''. Selected species include: * '' Phellinus ellipsoideus'' * '' Phellinus igniarius'' * '' Phellinus lundellii'' * ''

Phellinus pomaceus ''Phellinus pomaceus'' is a plant pathogen particularly common on ''Prunus'' species. It is not aggressively pathogenic but can cause considerable decay in trees suffering from other stress factors. ''P. pomaceus'' is found in Europe as well as ar ...

'' * '' Phellinus tremulae'' * '' Phellinus viticola'' The widespread species '' Fulvifomes robiniae'' was formerly considered within ''Phellinus'', but was moved to the genus ''Fulvifomes'' when that genus was resurrected based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence.

References

{{Authority control Agaricomycetes genera