Piptoporus australiensis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Polyporales
Family:	Fomitopsidaceae
Genus:	Piptoporus
Species:	P. australiensis
Binomial name
Piptoporus australiensis (Wakef.) G. Cunn.
Synonyms
Polyporus australiensis Wakef.

Piptoporus australiensis Mycological characteristics
	Pores on hymenium
	Ecology is parasitic
	Edibility is unknown

Piptoporus australiensis, commonly known as curry punk, is a polyporous bracket fungi. It is found in Australia.^[1] Often found on dead eucalypt trees and logs, often favouring fire-damaged wood. Curry Punk is named for its persistent curry smell which develops with age. The white top of this large, thick bracket becomes stained pale cream to orange by the orange flesh. Deep orange-yellow pores exude copious amounts of saffron-yellow juice.^[2]

Description

The Field Guide to Australian Fungi by Bruce A. Fuhrer describes it in this way: "Piptoporus australiensis is usually called Curry Punk because of its persistent curry-like odour, even when old and dry. In contrast to other spongy polypores, this species appears to be immune to insect attack. The large brackets occur on logs, particularly those that have been charred by fire, causing a brown cubical rot."^[3]

Cap diameter to 200 mm, projects to 170 mm; thickness to 80 mm; irregular to semicircular, flat to convex; white then staining yellow, orange to brown; soft but tough, smooth, ridged or pitted, greasy when wet; margin smooth, incurved. Pores are 1–10 per mm; round, angular or irregular; saffron-yellow, ageing to orange, rusty-brown; weeps saffron-yellow juice when wet. No stem, laterally attached to substrate by a broad base. Strong persistent curry smell when old or dry.

References