Inonotus obliquus

Inonotus obliquus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Hymenochaetales
Family:	Hymenochaetaceae
Genus:	Inonotus
Species:	I. obliquus
Binomial name
	Inonotus obliquus; (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát (1942)
Synonyms
	Boletus obliquus Ach. ex Pers. (1801); Polyporus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Fr. (1821); Physisporus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Chevall. (1826); Poria obliqua (Ach. ex Pers.) P.Karst. (1881); Fomes obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Cooke (1885); Phaeoporus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) J.Schröt. (1888); Mucronoporus obliqua (Ach. ex Pers.) Ellis & Everh. (1889); Scindalma obliquum (Ach. ex Pers.) Kuntze (1898); Phellinus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pat. (1900); Xanthochrous obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Bourdot & Galzin (1928); Fuscoporia obliqua (Ach. ex Pers.) Aoshima (1951)

Inonotus obliquus, commonly called chaga (/ˈtʃɑːɡə/; a Latinization of the Russian word ча́га), is a fungus in the family Hymenochaetaceae. It is parasitic on birch and other trees. The sterile conk is irregularly formed and resembles burnt charcoal. It is not the fruiting body of the fungus, but a sclerotium or mass of mycelium, mostly black because of a substantial amount of melanin. It is commonly marketed as a dietary supplement for various health benefits but lacks sufficient scientific evidence for safety or effectiveness, and quality can vary due to inconsistent processing and labeling.