Piptoporus Betulinus fungi, on a birch tree in woodland in Shropshire, England. Also known as the Razor Strop fungi.


Piptoporus betulinus, commonly known as the birch polypore, birch bracket, or razor strop, is one of the most common polyporous bracket fungi and, as the name suggests, grows almost exclusively on birch trees. The brackets burst out from the bark of the tree, and these fruiting bodies can last for more than a year. Technically, it is an edible mushroom, with a strong, pleasant "mushroomy" odor but a bitter taste. The velvety cut surface of the fruiting body was traditionally used as a strop for finishing the finest of edges on razors. It is also said to have medicinal properties, and this fungus was carried by "Ötzi the Iceman" – the 5,000-year-old mummy found in Tyrol.


Size: 5760px × 3840px
Location: Shropshire, England.
Photo credit: © Rob Carter / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: betulinus, birch, bracket, britain, england, fungi, great, piptoporus, polypore, razor, shropshire, strop, tree, uk, woodland