Bondarzewia mesenterica
Bondarzewia mesenterica (Schaeff.) Kreisel
B. montana (Quél.) Singer
Bondarzewiceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(i,ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-body fan-shaped composed of cap and stipe, 3–11(15) × 3–10 cm. Cap ochraceous, yellow brown, brown, scaly fibrillose; wrinkled when dry. Tubes strongly decurrent (almost to the base), creamy, with wide, angular, unicolored pores. Stipe central or lateral, developed at a different extent, creamy, ending in a hypogeous sclerotium. Flesh hard, whitish. Spores semi-globose, 6–8 × 5–7 µm, finely and irregularly verrucose, colourless. Fruit-bodies usually clustered. VIII–XI.
Habitats and populations. In coniferous, mainly fir forests in the mountains. Fruit-bodies developing at the base of tree trunks or in the roots of living trees (fir – Abies, spruce – Picea, pines – Pinus).
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rila Mts (in the vicinities of Rila Monastery and in Shoumnatitsa locality near Borovets), Rhodopi Mts (Western – Mantaritsa and Beglika localities; Central – Byala Cherkva rest home).
General distribution. Europe (Central), Asia, North America.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by logging, development of tourism/recreation and road infrastructure, fires.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Several localities are within the borders of Rila Monastery Nature Park, Mantaritsa and Beglika Strict Nature Reserves. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Klika 1926; Denchev et al. 2006; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Authors: Melania Gyosheva & Georgi T. Stoichev
