tinder fungus or not??????

[sailordad]

like the title says
tinder fungus or not?
it was growing on the split of a oak tree
the tree split there last summer from a wind storm,this grew in less than years time where the tree split in half

heres some pics





if so,does anyone want/need it?

thanks                                                                                      tim

[John K]

I think tinder fungis only grows on Birch trees, got a flint and steel ? Break of a chunk and see if it holds a spark.

[jamie]

true tinder fungus is chaga. typically grows on birch, especially yellow. can also be found on maple and elm but rare.  makes an incredibly healthy tea. im actually drinking it as i  type this. honestly i wouldnt wast it on tinder. too many benefits from the tea. if you do find it< it looks like a burnt limb sticking off the side of the tree.

[nclonghunter]

I have done some 18th Century reenacting and for "tinder" used with flint and steel it was shown to me as "hickory jack" or "tinder fungus". The type I have used worked great and it grew on oak trees a lot. I have found it on other unknown type trees. It looks like a fungus called "turkey tail", but the bottom is what was important. It was creme colored and very smooth. Most tree fungus had pores or gills across the bottom and those we did not use. I would take the "hickory jack" and cut it or break it into small pieces then put it in a charring tin to char it. It worked very well and was hard to put out once sparked.
I'm certain there are others that work well.

[sailordad]

well the bottom side is creamy and pretty smooth
heres a pic



im not into primitive fire making(yet)so i realy have no need for it
if anyone wants it,let me know
its a farily good size piece

[Pat B]

Can the shelf fungi(polypore?) that grow on locust be used with fire making. I have a few of those that I've collected in the woods around here. One I found is about 10" to 12" across. The underside is like velvet.

[Outbackbob48]

Chaga, looks differnt, the peice you are showing looks like cracked cap polypore. Chaga will catch a spark an polypore are used for coal extenders. Chaga likes to grow on the birches an all the polypores that I have found grow on locust. I'm no expert just my .02 worth. Bob

[sailordad]

i see that chaga on birch trees all the time,i knew that would work as tinder
was curious if this would work also
like i said before,im not into fire making so i dont need it,just thought someone else would like to try it
well ifn this isnt any god for anything and nobody wants or needs it
into the trash can it will go 

[sailordad]

since no one has any interst in this
i'll just toss into the trash