''Pycnoporus cinnabarinus'', also known as the cinnabar polypore, is a saprophytic, white rot decomposer. Its

fruit body The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...

is a bright orangish

shelf fungus Polypores, also called bracket or shelf fungi, are a morphological group of basidiomycete-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi that form large fruiting bodies called conks, which are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, ...

up to across and thick. It stains dark in

potassium hydroxide Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula K OH, and is commonly called caustic potash. Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), KOH is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications, most of which utili ...

. There 2–4 pores per mm. The

spore print 300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing warm orange ("tussock") color spore print. ...

is white. It is common in many areas and is widely distributed throughout the world. It is inedible. It produces cinnabarinic acid to protect itself from bacteria.Eggert C. Laccase-catalyzed formation of cinnabarinic acid is responsible for antibacterial activity of Pycnoporus cinnabarinus. ''Microbiol Res''. 1997;152(3):315-318.

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* Fungi described in 1776 Inedible fungi Polyporaceae Fungus species {{plant-disease-stub