I’ve talked about “veiled” mushrooms on this blog before, but the veiled polypore, Cryptoporus volvatus, is different. Usually, a mushroom’s veil helps protect the gills while it is maturing, but then disintegrates when the mushroom is ready to spread its spores. After all, permanently enclosing your spore bearing surfaces makes no sense as it prevents your spores from getting out and propagating.
With the veiled polypore however, the veil does not disintegrate. It is made of much firmer stuff than the typical loose sheathing. So how do the spores get out?
To answer this question we need to know a little bit more about the ecology of this fungus. The veiled polypore grows on pine trees that have been infested with pine beetles. In fact, Cryptoporus volvatus can be used as an indicator species for pine beetle presence. In the early to mid 20th century it was common to plant large stands of pine to prevent soil erosion and harvest quick timber. The problem was that one, most of these pines were planted too closely together, making them unhealthy, and two, these stands were monocultures. These two factors combined to make these stands extremely vulnerable to pine beetles (and hence also to the veiled polypore).
So, how does this explain the veiled polypore’s spore distribution method? Well, the veiled polypore does not rely on wind for spore dispersal, like most species of fungi, instead it uses pine beetles as spore vectors. The veiled polypore essentially creates a protected nest for the pine beetles. The veil insures the temperature and humidity inside are just right for the beetles. The beetles thus get covered in spores which they carry into the sapwood when they are feeding. There is a small puncture in the veil which allows the beetles in and out. It’s a win-win for both beetle and fungus, and a billion dollar curse for the timber industry.
So there you have it, the interesting story behind a rather drab fungus.
For more info and pictures check out: https://www.forestfloornarrative.com/blog/2018/2/23/fungi-friday-the-veiled-polypore-cryptoporus-volvatus
recycled paper clips 