Amyloporia sinuosa or Amylocystis lapponica
How they differ, how to recognize them and which is more dangerous — a mushroom comparison
The short answer
Amyloporia sinuosa and Amylocystis lapponica are similar species that can be mixed up while foraging. The main visible difference: season: Amyloporia sinuosa — spring, summer, autumn, winter, Amylocystis lapponica — summer. The mushrooms also differ in the following features: cap color, cap shape, flesh color change.
Amyloporia sinuosa
Amyloporia sinuosa
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Amylocystis lapponica
Amylocystis lapponica
📊 Comparing characteristics
| Characteristic | Amyloporia sinuosa | Amylocystis lapponica |
|---|---|---|
| Edibility class | Amyloporia sinuosa Inedible | Amylocystis lapponica Inedible |
| Season | Amyloporia sinuosa SpringSummerAutumnWinter | Amylocystis lapponica Summer |
| Use | Amyloporia sinuosa Not eaten | Amylocystis lapponica Not eaten |
| Size | Amyloporia sinuosa Medium (5–15 cm) | Amylocystis lapponica Medium (5–15 cm) |
| Cap color | Amyloporia sinuosa WhiteYellowBrown | Amylocystis lapponica WhitePinkRedBrown |
| Cap shape | Amyloporia sinuosa Irregular | Amylocystis lapponica Convex |
| Cap surface | Amyloporia sinuosa Smooth | Amylocystis lapponica Smooth |
| Taste | Amyloporia sinuosa Unknown | Amylocystis lapponica Unknown |
| Smell | Amyloporia sinuosa Odorless | Amylocystis lapponica Odorless |
| Flesh color change | Amyloporia sinuosa Yellowing | Amylocystis lapponica Reddening |
| Hymenophore | Amyloporia sinuosa Pored | Amylocystis lapponica Pored |
| Stem | Amyloporia sinuosa Absent | Amylocystis lapponica Lateral |
| Ring (veil) | Amyloporia sinuosa No ring | Amylocystis lapponica No ring |
| Volva | Amyloporia sinuosa No volva | Amylocystis lapponica No volva |
| Substrate | Amyloporia sinuosa Dead wood | Amylocystis lapponica Dead wood |
| Nutrition type | Amyloporia sinuosa Saprotroph | Amylocystis lapponica Saprotroph |
| Partner trees | Amyloporia sinuosa PineSpruce | Amylocystis lapponica Spruce |
📅 Seasonality
Amyloporia sinuosa
Fruiting season
January – December
Amylocystis lapponica
Fruiting season
July – August
🔬 Morphology
Cap
Amyloporia sinuosa
The fruiting body is spread out, flat, up to 20 cm across. Color changes: white when young, yellowing over time, light brown as it dries.
Amylocystis lapponica
Semicircular cap 5–15 cm wide, up to 3 cm thick. At first white with a pinkish tinge, a rusty-white tone. It darkens with age, becoming brownish brick-red.
Hymenophore
Amyloporia sinuosa
Tubular pore surface. Tubes short, 0.5–2.5 mm. Spore print whitish. Spores cylindrical, colorless, 4–5.5 × 0.75–1.5 µm.
Amylocystis lapponica
Tubular pore surface. Tubes 1–4 mm long. Spore print white.
Stem
Amyloporia sinuosa
There is no stem. The body is spread out and attached to the substrate over its whole surface.
Amylocystis lapponica
The stem is absent or very short and lateral. The cap is attached to the substrate by a broad base.
Flesh
Amyloporia sinuosa
flesh white, yellowing over time. The mycelium penetrates deep into the wood along cracks — hence “sinuous” (winding) in the name.
Amylocystis lapponica
flesh fleshy in young fruiting bodies, hardening with age and turning corky. Its color changes from white to reddish.
Smell
Amyloporia sinuosa
No distinctive smell. When dried it has no smell at all.
Amylocystis lapponica
Mushroomy, faint. When dry it has practically no smell.
📍 Habitats
Amyloporia sinuosa
Amylocystis lapponica
👀 Similar mushrooms — don't mix them up!
❓ Frequently asked questions
Can Amyloporia sinuosa and Amylocystis lapponica be mixed up?
How to tell Amyloporia sinuosa from Amylocystis lapponica?
Is Amylocystis lapponica edible?
When do Amyloporia sinuosa and Amylocystis lapponica grow?
Sources
- [1]Вікіпедія (українська)
- [2]Атлас грибів України, Зеров Д.К. (1979)
- [3]MycoBank Database
- [4]Index Fungorum
- [5]GBIF
- [6]iNaturalist Ukraine