The RealTinder Mushroom, murderer and corpse snatcher

On this walk we come across many dead poplars. This tree species may like it moist, but too wet does not give oxygen to the roots. Trees that are weak are easily infected with the tinder fungus. This fungus is a parasite that at this stage takes advantage of the sap flow of the trees and causes "white rot". White rot destroys the wood so that the tree loses its sturdiness and blows over easily. When the tree dies, the fungus remains active on the dead old.

Before 1970, the tinder fungus was rather a rare species. Due to a changed view of forest management, in which more dead wood was tolerated in the forest and more old trees were allowed to remain, the Tinder fungus has increased significantly over the past 50 years.

These mushrooms have been used by humans since prehistoric times. For example, in a bag of Ötzi, the 5300-year-old ice mummy, an object made of braided fungal threads of the real tinder fungus was discovered. After all, a soft felt could be made from the fruiting body.

However, tinders are the most well-known application. The cores of young fungi are bruised into the fluffy, soft 'tinder'. This tinder was used to collect sparks from flints that had been knocked together. The tinder starts to smolder and that's the start for making a bigger fire.

Jan Rymenams