''Piptoporus australiensis'', commonly known as curry punk, is a
polyporous bracket fungi
Polypores are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside (see Delimitation for exceptions). They are a morphological group of basidiomycetes-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi, and not all polypor ...
. It is found in Australia.
Often found on dead
eucalypt
Eucalypt is a descriptive name for woody plants with capsule fruiting bodies belonging to seven closely related genera (of the tribe Eucalypteae) found across Australasia:
''Eucalyptus'', '' Corymbia'', '' Angophora'', ''Stockwellia'', ''Allosyn ...
trees and logs, often favouring fire-damaged wood. Curry Punk is named for its persistent curry smell which develops with age. The white top of this large, thick bracket becomes stained pale cream to orange by the orange flesh. Deep orange-yellow pores exude copious amounts of saffron-yellow juice.
Description
The ''Field Guide to Australian Fungi'' by
Bruce A. Fuhrer
Bruce Alexander Fuhrer OAM (31 December 1930 – 31 March 2023) was an Australian botanist and photographer, specialising in cryptogams. His photographic collection of fungi numbers more than 3000 species.
Early life
Born in Woollahra, Sydney, ...
describes it in this way: "''Piptoporus australiensis'' is usually called Curry Punk because of its persistent
curry
A curry is a dish with a sauce seasoned with spices, mainly associated with South Asian cuisine. In southern India, leaves from the curry tree may be included.
There are many varieties of curry. The choice of spices for each dish in tradit ...
-like odour, even when old and dry. In contrast to other spongy
polypore
Polypores are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside (see Delimitation for exceptions). They are a morphological group of basidiomycetes-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi, and not all polypor ...
s, this species appears to be immune to insect attack. The large brackets occur on logs, particularly those that have been charred by fire, causing a brown cubical rot."
Cap diameter to 200 mm, projects to 170 mm; thickness to 80 mm; irregular to semicircular, flat to convex; white then staining yellow, orange to brown; soft but tough, smooth, ridged or pitted, greasy when wet; margin smooth, incurved. Pores are 1–10 per mm; round, angular or irregular; saffron-yellow, ageing to orange, rusty-brown; weeps saffron-yellow juice when wet. No stem, laterally attached to substrate by a broad base. Strong persistent curry smell when old or dry.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7197517
Fomitopsidaceae
Fungi of Australia