Editing Polypore (section)

==Description==
[[File:Pileate polypore2.svg|thumb|upright|Schematic drawing of a pileate polypore fruit body]]

The fungal individual that develops the fruit bodies that are identified as polypores resides in soil or wood as [[mycelium]]. Polypores are often restricted to either deciduous (angiosperm) or conifer ([[gymnosperm]]) host trees. Some species depend on a single tree genus (e.g. ''[[Piptoporus betulinus]]'' on [[birch]], ''Perenniporia corticola'' on [[Dipterocarpaceae|dipterocarps]]).{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Forms of polypore fruit bodies range from mushroom-shaped to thin effused patches ([[corticioid fungi|crusts]]) that develop on dead wood. Perennial fruit bodies of some species growing on living trees can grow over 80 years old (e.g. ''[[Phellinus igniarius]]'').<ref name="Gäumann 1928"/> Most species of polypores develop new, short-lived fruit bodies annually or several times every year. Abundant fruit takes place during the autumn or rainy season.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Structure of the fruit bodies is simple. Effused or resupinate fruit bodies typically consist of two layers - a tube layer of vertically arranged tubes that open downwards, and supporting layer called subiculum that supports and attached the tubes to substrate. In fruit bodies with a cap (pileate fruit bodies) the tissue between upper surface and the pore layer is called context. A few polypores (e.g. ''[[Fomes fomentarius]]'' and ''[[Inocutis rhaedes]]'') also have a core between context and substrate. A minority of polypores also have a stalk ([[stipe (mycology)|stipe]]) that attach to the cap either laterally or centrally depending on the species.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Polypore tubes are a honeycomb-like structure, where the individual tubes have fused together. Their sides are covered with a spore-forming surface, the [[hymenium]]. The tubes offer shelter for developing spores and help to increase the area of the spore-producing surface. Pore size and shape vary a lot between species, but little within a species – some ''[[Hexagonia (fungus)|Hexagonia]]'' spp. have 5&nbsp;mm wide pores whereas pores of ''[[Antrodiella]]'' spp. are invisible to naked eye with 15 pores per mm. Generally the larger the pores, the larger the spores. A few polypores produce asexual spores ([[chlamydospore]]s or [[conidia]]) in the upper surface of their cap (e.g. ''[[Echinopora aculeifera]]'', ''[[Oligoporus ptychogaster]]'') or without the presence of a sexual fruit body (e.g. ''Inonotus rickii'', ''[[Heterobasidion]]'' spp.).<ref>Gilbertson RL, Ryvarden L (1986) ''North American polypores 1, ''Abortiporus'' to ''Lindtneria. Oslo,  Fungiflora.</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Polyporus sp.jpg|''Polyporus'' sp. fruit bodies with stalk (Indonesia)
File:Fomitopsis pinicola FI.jpg|Perennial conk of ''[[Fomitopsis pinicola]]'' on spruce
File:Gloeoporus taxicola.jpg|Effused fruit bodies of ''Meruliopsis taxicola'' on a pine log
File:Onderkant buisjeszwam.jpg|bottom side polypore with pores/tubes clearly visible
</gallery>

=== Delimitation (morphology) ===
Most polypores have a poroid hymenium, but not all species. A few, for instance ''Elmerina holophaea'' and ''[[Lenzites betulina]]'', form gills like [[agaric]]s but are still considered polypores, since in all other respects they are similar to closely related polypores, forming tough fruiting bodies on the wood. A couple of species where the tubes have not fused together in a honey-comb manner are variably classified as polypores or not (e.g. ''Porotheleum fimbriatum''). There's no clear distinction between polypores and hydnoid fungi - some polypores with irregularly poroid lower surface have been considered both polypores and hydnoid fungi (e.g. ''[[Echinodontium tinctorium]]'', ''[[Irpex lacteus]]'').

[[Bolete]] mushrooms are a separate morphological group not included in polypores even though they have tubes. Fleshy fruiting bodies with a stalk and microscopic characters separate boletes from polypores.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="140px">
File:Irpex lacteus2.jpg|''[[Irpex lacteus]]'' with irregular pores
File:Elmerina holophaea.jpg|''Elmerina holophaea'', a polypore with gills
</gallery>