Laricifomes officinalis

Laricifomes officinalis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Polyporales
Family: Laricifomitaceae
Genus: Laricifomes
Kotl. & Pouzar (1957)
Species:
L. officinalis
Binomial name
Laricifomes officinalis
(Vill.) Kotl. & Pouzar (1957)
Synonyms

Boletus officinalis Vill. (1789)
Polyporus officinalis (Vill.) Fr. (1821)
Piptoporus officinalis (Vill.) P.Karst. (1882)
Cladomeris officinalis (Vill.) Quél. (1886)
Ungulina officinalis (Vill.) Pat. (1900)
Fomes officinalis (Vill.) Bres. (1931)
Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill.) Bondartsev & Singer (1941)
Agaricum officinale (Vill.) Donk (1971) [1974]
Boletus laricis F.Rubel (1778)
Boletus officinalis Batsch (1783)
Boletus agaricum Pollini (1824)
Fomes fuscatus Lázaro Ibiza (1916)

Laricifomes officinalis
Pores on hymenium
No distinct cap
Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
Lacks a stipe
Ecology is parasitic or saprotrophic
Edibility is inedible

Laricifomes officinalis, also known as agarikon, eburiko, or the quinine conk, is a wood-decay fungus that grows in large conks on the trunks of trees. It causes brown heart rot on conifers in Eurasia, Morocco, and North America. This fungus is the only member of the genus Laricifomes.

There has been a history of human use of the fungus, from textiles, to ritualistic masks, and medicinal use; the name "quinine conk" refers to its bitter taste. There is recent scientific evidence of it having potency against several viruses.