Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.) P. Karst.
(Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)

Interactions where Piptoporus betulinus is the controlling partner and gains from the process

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'References').

Stage		Summary			Taxon	Vernacular	Classification	References	Darwin Classification of Active Taxon	Active Taxon	Active Vernacular	Active Taxon Uncertain	Active State	Active Part	Active Stage	Relationship	Relationship Uncertain	Relationship Geography	Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon	Passive Taxon	Passive Vernacular	Passive Taxon Uncertain	Passive State	Passive Part	Passive Stage	Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon	Indoors etc	Season
fruitbody		fruitbody parasitises dead, brown-rotten trunk			Betula	birches	Fagales: Betulaceae	Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005 Attempts at active protection of Inonotus obliquus by inoculating birches with its mycelium, Pietka, J. & Grzywacz, A., 2006	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus				fruitbody	Foodplant / parasite		UK and/or Eire	/Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Fagales/Betulaceae/Betula/	Betula	birches		dead, brown-rotten	trunk		Sole
fruitbody		fruitbody parasitises dead, brown-rotten log			Betula	birches	Fagales: Betulaceae	Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005 Attempts at active protection of Inonotus obliquus by inoculating birches with its mycelium, Pietka, J. & Grzywacz, A., 2006	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus				fruitbody	Foodplant / parasite		UK and/or Eire	/Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Fagales/Betulaceae/Betula/	Betula	birches		dead, brown-rotten	log		Sole
fruitbody		fruitbody infects and damages live trunk			Betula	birches	Fagales: Betulaceae	Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants, Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998 Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus				fruitbody	Foodplant / pathogen		UK and/or Eire	/Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Fagales/Betulaceae/Betula/	Betula	birches		live	trunk		Sole

Interactions where Piptoporus betulinus is the victim or passive partner (and generally loses out from the process)

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'References').

Filters:

Affected Part		Summary			Taxon	Vernacular	Classification	References	Darwin Classification of Active Taxon	Active Taxon	Active Vernacular	Active Taxon Uncertain	Active State	Active Part	Active Stage	Relationship	Relationship Uncertain	Relationship Geography	Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon	Passive Taxon	Passive Vernacular	Passive Taxon Uncertain	Passive State	Passive Part	Passive Stage	Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon	Indoors etc	Season	Summary
(dead, decayed)		dead, decayed fruitbody is decayed by fruitbody			Sistotrema hispanicum	a basidiomycete fungus	Cantharellales: Hydnaceae	Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Cantharellales/Hydnaceae/Sistotrema hispanicum/	Sistotrema hispanicum	a basidiomycete fungus				fruitbody	Fungus / saprobe			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus		dead, decayed		fruitbody	Rare			fruitbody is saprobic on dead, decayed fruitbody
(decaying)		decaying bracket is parasitised by superficial stroma			Trichoderma pulvinatum	Ochre Cushion	Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Trichoderma pulvinatum/	Trichoderma pulvinatum	ochre cushion		superficial		stroma	Fungus / parasite			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus		decaying		bracket	Major			superficial stroma parasitises decaying bracket
(old)		old bracket is parasitised by subiculate perithecium			Hypomyces aurantius	Orange Polypore Mould	Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces aurantius/	Hypomyces aurantius	orange polypore mould		subiculate		perithecium	Fungus / parasite			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus		old		bracket	Major			subiculate perithecium parasitises old bracket
(old)		old bracket is parasitised by Cladobotryum anamorph			Hypomyces aurantius	Orange Polypore Mould	Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces aurantius/	Hypomyces aurantius	orange polypore mould				Cladobotryum anamorph	Fungus / parasite			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus		old		bracket	Major			Cladobotryum anamorph parasitises old bracket
bracket		bracket is parasitised by compact colony of Penicillium anamorph			Penicillium brevicompactum	Rollrim Mould	Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	/Fungi/Ascomycota/Eurotiomycetes/Eurotiales/Trichocomaceae/Penicillium brevicompactum/	Penicillium brevicompactum	rollrim mould		compact	colony	Penicillium anamorph	Fungus / parasite			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			bracket					compact colony of Penicillium anamorph parasitises bracket
bracket		bracket is parasitised by subiculate perithecium			Hypomyces rosellus	Pink Polypore Mould	Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces rosellus/	Hypomyces rosellus	pink polypore mould		subiculate		perithecium	Fungus / parasite			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			bracket					subiculate perithecium parasitises bracket
bracket		bracket is parasitised by Cladobotryum anamorph			Hypomyces rosellus	Pink Polypore Mould	Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	/Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Hypocreaceae/Hypomyces rosellus/	Hypomyces rosellus	pink polypore mould				Cladobotryum anamorph	Fungus / parasite			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			bracket					Cladobotryum anamorph parasitises bracket
fruitbody		fruitbody may contain larva			Cis bidentatus	a small fungus beetle	Coleoptera: Ciidae	The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010	/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis bidentatus/	Cis bidentatus	a small fungus beetle				larva	Fungus / internal feeder		UK and/or Eire	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			fruitbody		Major			larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody		fruitbody may contain larva			Cis bilamellatus	a small fungus beetle	Coleoptera: Ciidae	Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations, Bullock, J.A., 1992 The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010	/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis bilamellatus/	Cis bilamellatus	a small fungus beetle				larva	Fungus / internal feeder		UK and/or Eire	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			fruitbody					larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody		fruitbody may contain larva			Cis boleti	a small fungus beetle	Coleoptera: Ciidae	The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010	/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis boleti/	Cis boleti	a small fungus beetle				larva	Fungus / internal feeder		UK and/or Eire	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			fruitbody					larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody		fruitbody may contain larva			Cis castaneus	a small fungus beetle	Coleoptera: Ciidae	The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010	/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis castaneus/	Cis castaneus	a small fungus beetle				larva	Fungus / internal feeder		UK and/or Eire	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			fruitbody					larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody		fruitbody may contain larva			Cis fagi	a small fungus beetle	Coleoptera: Ciidae	The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact, Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010	/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Ciidae/Cis fagi/	Cis fagi	a small fungus beetle				larva	Fungus / internal feeder		UK and/or Eire	/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			fruitbody		Major			larva feeds within fruitbody
fruitbody		fruitbody may contain larva			Diaperis boleti	a darkling beetle	Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae	Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations, Bullock, J.A., 1992	/Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Coleoptera/Tenebrionidae/Diaperis boleti/	Diaperis boleti	a darkling beetle				larva	Fungus / internal feeder			/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Polyporales/Fomitopsidaceae/Piptoporus betulinus/	Piptoporus betulinus	birch polypore, razorstrop fungus			fruitbody					larva feeds within fruitbody

Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus) may also be included in 'feeds on' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

FUNGI
(true fungi)

Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus) may also be included in 'fed on by' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

POLYPORALES
(polypores)

FUNGI
(true fungi)

Fungi s.l.
(fungi (in the broad sense))

Author & Year	Title	Source
Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998	Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants	Collins Photoguide, 2nd edition edition, Collins
Bullock, J.A., 1992	Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations	11a, 24pp, Amateur Entomologists’ Society
Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook	2nd (New Enlarged) edition, 246pp, The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd
Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005	Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota	517pp, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Orledge, G.M., Smith, P.A. & Reynolds, S.E., 2010	The non-pest Australasian fungivore Cis bilamellatus Wood (Coleoptera: Ciidae) in northern Europe: spread dynamics, invasion success and ecological impact	Biological Invasions Vol 12: 515-530.
Pietka, J. & Grzywacz, A., 2006	Attempts at active protection of Inonotus obliquus by inoculating birches with its mycelium	Acta Mycologica Vol 41 (2): 305-312.

Taxonomic hierarchy:

Species	Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)
Genus	Piptoporus (a genus of bracket fungi)
Family	FOMITOPSIDACEAE (a family of bracket fungi)
Order	POLYPORALES (polypores)
Subclass	AGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
Class	AGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
Subphylum	AGARICOMYCOTINA
Phylum	BASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers)
Kingdom	FUNGI (true fungi)
Domain	Eukaryota (eukaryotes)
Life	BIOTA (living things)

Piptoporus betulinus is also a member of:
Fungi s.l. - fungi (in the broad sense) (via Fungi)
Lower Plants - lower plants (via Fungi s.l.)

NBN

NBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus)

Identification Works

	Author	Year	Title	Source
	Anderson, R.	2001	Fungi and Beetles - diversity within diversity	Field Mycology Vol 2 (3): 82-87.
	Schwarze, F.	1993	Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.: Fr.) Karsten - Birch Polypore or Razor-strop Fungus	Wood Rotting Fungi Mycologist Vol 07 (3): 122-3.

Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

FOMITOPSIDACEAE
(a family of bracket fungi)

POLYPORALES
(polypores)

AGARICOMYCETIDAE
(a subclass of basidiomycetes)

AGARICOMYCETES
(a class of fungi)

BASIDIOMYCOTA
(spore droppers)

FUNGI
(true fungi)

Eukaryota
(eukaryotes)

BIOTA
(living things)

Fungi s.l.
(fungi (in the broad sense))

Literature listed under the following higher taxa may be relevant to Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore, Razorstrop Fungus):

FOMITOPSIDACEAE
(a family of bracket fungi)

POLYPORALES
(polypores)

AGARICOMYCETIDAE
(a subclass of basidiomycetes)

AGARICOMYCETES
(a class of fungi)

BASIDIOMYCOTA
(spore droppers)

FUNGI
(true fungi)

Eukaryota
(eukaryotes)

BIOTA
(living things)

Fungi s.l.
(fungi (in the broad sense))

A very common parasite on Betula throughout the UK. It eventually kills the host and continues to fruit on the standing or fallen trunk. The pith of the fungus is pure white, very tough and finely fibrous. Thin slices were used at one time to cover razor-strops which were used for stropping (straightening the cutting edge of) cut-throat razors after sharpening. Strips of the pith were also used by entomologists for mounting insects under the name of "Polyporus Pith", before the days of Plastazote.

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