Phellinus populicola

Phellinus populicola is a polypore living on aspen (Populus tremula). It has large and wedge-shaped perennial fruit body. Its upper surface is zone-like and gray or brownish in colour. When older, the surface cracks and becomes covered with moss. The lower surface pore layer is brownish.

It grows on live aspens and thrives best in old spruce forests with aspen.

Phellinus populicola can be confused with its relative willow bracket (Phellinus igniarius), but it is easily identified with the host tree species being aspen.

Phellinus populicola is a wood decayer that uses wood's brown lignin, leaving white cellulose behind. The species is rare. In forest management, suitable substrates for the Phellinus populicola are formed by leaving aspens to grow during thinnings and leaving them as retention trees in forest regeneration.