Fomes fomentarius
The tinder fungus is a perennial wood-decay fungus that forms large, hoof-shaped fruit bodies on hardwood trunks. Its colour ranges from silvery grey to almost black but is usually brown, and it causes white rot.
Grows mostly on hardwood trunks: on birch in the north, beech further south and oak in the Mediterranean.
Found frequently across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
Identification suggestions (from the community or from AI) and the information here may be wrong; this app never confirms that anything is safe to eat. Do not consume wild plants, mushrooms or seafood without expert confirmation. Nothing here is medical advice.
Ötzi the Iceman, who lived 5,000 years ago, carried four pieces of this fungus, probably for tinder.
Never eat a wild mushroom without showing it to an expert
No mushroom should be picked for eating based on this app or a photo. Deadly species look very like the ones foragers look for, and symptoms start hours later. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison centre or emergency number right away (in Türkiye: 114).
Thick, horse-hoof-shaped body broadly attached to the tree
Hard grey to brown crust with broad concentric ridges
Cream round pores on the underside
On beech, birch and oak trunks; persists for years
Not known to be poisonous — still never eat it