■ a group of fungi known as bracket fungi or shelf fungi
□ In English, the name bracket fungi comes from the shape of their basidiocarp 担子器果(たんしきか). The common formation as shelves growing from trees (actually rot) gives them their other common name of shelf fungi. In Japanese, 猿の腰掛け literally means monkey's chair.
Many species are hard and wood-like. Some are edible; others are poisonous. 猿の腰掛け is commonly known in Japan as being a source for 漢方薬(かんぽうやく) "Chinese medicine," though this is doubtless not the case for all species.
The scientific name is Polyporaceae, known in Japanese as 多孔菌科(タコウキンカ), which literally means poly-porous fungi family. The hymenium 子実層(しじつそう) is porous in most species (see Polyporaceae and Polyporaceae of India/Anjali Roy and A.B. De: Book No.11638), though this is no longer the defining characteristic.
◇ As used in 漢方薬:
更にパワーアップ 長白山の霊芝 （コフキサルノコシカケ） (non-shelf type)
行者還岳（大峰） (picture is missing)
A:\GEKIJOU.jfw (no picture)
MCBG Mycology Guide (sulfur shelf: Laetiporus sulphureus)
MCBG Mycology Guide (Dyer's polypore: Phaeolus schweinitzii )
MCBG Mycology Guide (oyster mushroom: Pleurotus ostreatus)
This entry was created by Benjamin Barrett.