''Trametes betulina'' (formerly ''Lenzites betulina''), sometimes known by common names gilled polypore, birch mazegill or multicolor gill polypore, is a species of inedible

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

. Although it is a member of the

Polyporales The Polyporales are an order of about 1800 species of fungi in the division Basidiomycota. The order includes some (but not all) polypores as well as many corticioid fungi and a few agarics (mainly in the genus ''Lentinus''). Many species withi ...

order, its

fruiting bodies 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 ...

have gills instead of pores, which distinguishes it from the superficially similar ''

Trametes versicolor ''Trametes versicolor''also known as ''Coriolus versicolor'' and ''Polyporus versicolor''is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Meaning 'of several colors', ''versicolor'' reliably describes this fungus that displays a variet ...

'' or ''

Trametes hirsuta ''Trametes hirsuta'', commonly known as hairy bracket, is a fungal plant pathogen. It is found on dead wood of deciduous trees, especially beechwood. It is found all year round and persists due to its leathery nature.Phillips, Roger (2006), Mushr ...

''. Research has shown that it has several medicinal properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunosuppressive activities.Medicinal Mushrooms » Blog Archive » ''Lenzites betulina''
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References

External links

Index Fungorum

USDA ARS Fungal Database

by Robert Sasata, ''Healing-Mushrooms.net'', September, 2007.

The Mushroom Farm Fungal plant pathogens and diseases Polyporaceae Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America Fungi described in 1838 Inedible fungi {{fungus-plant-disease-stub