Polyporus umbellatus is a rare, inedible species of mushroom, found growing on roots of old beeches or oak

Oak

An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...

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Description

The fruiting body is composed of numerous (sometimes several hundred) caps. They are 1–4 cm in diameter, deeply umbilicate, light brown, and form the extremities of a strong, many branched stock. The compound fungus can be up to 40 cm in diameter.
The pores are narrow and white. The stock is whitish grey, and originates from a strong, tuber like nodule that is underground. The flesh is white, rather soft when young, although hardens with age.

Bioactive compounds

Polyporus umbellatus may contain bioactive compounds with immunostimulating, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties.

See also

• The genus Polyporus
  Polyporus
  Polyporus is a genus of fungi in the Polyporaceae family. It is a genus used for the production of single cell proteins, sources of mixed protein extracted from pure or mixed cultures of algae, yeasts, fungi or bacteria used as a substitute for protein-rich foods, in human and animal feeds.The...
  
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• E. Garnweidner. Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe. Collins. 1994.