Laetiporus portentosus

White Punk at Bawley Point, NSW

Laetiporus portentosus at Bawley Point, NSW - 18 Aug 2019
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Identification history

Laetiporus portentosus 19 Aug 2019 Pam
Laetiporus portentosus 19 Aug 2019 Pam
Unidentified 18 Aug 2019 PaulyB

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User's notes

Spotted on Milton NPA walk just north of Nuggan Pt

3 comments

Pam wrote:
   19 Aug 2019
Paul this specimen is slightly distorted and I would have thought a little late in the year for this species. However the colour and the obvious insect damage are typical of this species. At home I find them growing on trees with 'stringy' fibrous bark both trunks and branches. Often when they fall to the ground the remnant may look like a piece of polystyrene foam due to all the tunnels throughout it made by insects! If you are able to visit this tree in future years keep an eye out for it to reappear.
This seems to be a first sighting of this species in the area and thus a new one for the list so I'll add it to the ID list. Thank you for helping to expand our knowledge and understanding of what is found in the region.
Pam wrote:
   19 Aug 2019
Meant to mention that the dry remnants of these fungi are combustible and were once used as tinder by Aboriginal people and early colonists.
PaulyB wrote:
   19 Aug 2019
Many thanks Pam. This is invaluable and I have let our group of walkers know. How exciting!

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 18 Aug 2019 12:00 AM Recorded on
  • PaulyB Recorded by

Species information

  • Laetiporus portentosus Scientific name
  • White Punk Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Non-Invasive
  • Up to 995m Recorded at altitude
  • Machine learning
  • External link More information
  • Synonyms

    Piptoporus eucalyptorum (Fr.) Warcup, Ecology Forests Woodlands South Australia: 131 (1986) Piptoporus portentosus (Berk.) G. Cunn., Bull. N.Z. Dept. Sci. Industr. Res., Pl. Dis. Div. 164: 106 (1965) Piptoporus eucalyptorum Piptoporus portentosus
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