# Cracked Cap Polypore (*fulvifomes robiniae*) The Cracked Cap Polypore is a fascinating fungus that grows on trees! Its unique cracked cap looks like it's wearing a cool hat! - **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** It typically lives on decaying hardwood trees in forests. - **Also known as:** Black Locust Fungus, Cracked Cap Mushroom, Locust Polypore ![Cracked Cap Polypore](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phellinus_robiniae_%284000337087%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phellinus_robiniae_%284000337087%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Cracked Cap Polypore is a woody, hoof-shaped fungus with a distinctive dark brown to black cap margin and an orange-brown pore surface. Its upper surface is often deeply cracked and zoned, making it visually distinct from smoother polypores on similar trees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Fungi - **Phylum:** Basidiomycota - **Class:** Agaricomycetes - **Order:** Hymenochaetales - **Family:** Hymenochaetaceae - **Genus:** Phellinus ## Interesting facts - It can live for many years, growing new layers each season like tree rings! - Its super tough body makes it one of the hardest fungi in the forest! - Look closely for tiny holes on its underside where millions of spores are released! - This mushroom makes its home on a special tree called the Black Locust! ## Special abilities - **Woody Recycler:** Cracked Cap Polypore can break down dead hardwood because it has powerful enzymes that help them return nutrients to the soil. - **Crack Keeper:** Cracked Cap Polypore has a deeply cracked cap that helps them release spores and endure dry conditions over years. - **Tree Toughener:** Cracked Cap Polypore has a very hard, woody texture that helps them resist pests and survive long on tree trunks. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 3-10 cm - **Edible:** inedible - **Size:** 10-30 cm - **Growth Substrate:** wood - **Season:** Year-round, but active in summer/fall - **Spore Color:** Brown ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** [Black Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-locust) (*Robinia pseudoacacia*) — Causes heart rot in its favorite host tree. - **Eats:** Minute Tree-Fungus Beetle (*Cis boleti*) — Feeds on woody fruiting bodies of polypore fungi. - **Depends on:** [Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Picoides pubescens*) — Woodpeckers find insects in the weakened, rotting wood. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cracked Cap Polypore? Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Cracked Cap Polypore? 3-10 cm ### Is Cracked Cap Polypore edible? inedible ### How big is Cracked Cap Polypore? 10-30 cm ### Where is Cracked Cap Polypore usually found? It typically lives on decaying hardwood trees in forests. ### What does Cracked Cap Polypore grow on? wood ### When is Cracked Cap Polypore in season? Year-round, but active in summer/fall ### What color are Cracked Cap Polypore spores? Brown ## Where to spot - [Harriman Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harriman-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Plant Collections Network](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/plant-collections-network) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [St. Nicholas Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/st-nicholas-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Muddy Hole Farm Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/muddy-hole-farm-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Cracked Cap Polypore](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cracked-cap-polypore) ## More Fungi - [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*) --- Source: [Cracked Cap Polypore: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cracked-cap-polypore)