| Ecology & Habitat | Saprotrophic, Growing as Individual Shelves, It can be found growing on dead or dying trees, specifically birch trees |
| Cap | White cap to brown, and has a thin cuticle that is tough and papery. |
| Pores | The pore surface is white and bruises brown, pores elongate and turn brown as they age making them look like hair or teeth. |
| Spores | White |
This common mushroom can be found in almost every stand of birch trees you might come across. They grow on both standing and fallen birch trees, But, for the standing trees, presence of this fungus is and indicator that the tree will likely not be standing much longer. The only exception would be if a single branch of a healthy tree was effected. that branch would certainly soon fall if these fungus are present on it. This mushroom like many bracket shaped fungi is too tough to eat. It is however used by some to make a medicinal tea. The tea is reportedly beneficial to the immune system, where it is said to both enhances a weak immune system, or calm an hyperactive immune system. But, it also has another interesting use, which inspired another common name for it. The “Razor strop mushroom”. Its strong leathery flesh can be used in a similar fashion as a leather strop to sharpen metal blades. This fungus, along with Fomes fomentarus were found among the belongings of “Otz” aka “The Iceman”, a Copper age mummy who was excavated from his icy grave by scientists, in 1991, and is currently the oldest copper age mummy ever found.
