top of page

Fungi of Zihuatanejo

KINGDOM FUNGI

-Fungi Including Lichens ( Kingdom Fungi)

-Basidiomycete Fungi (Phylum Basidiomycota)

-Higher Basidiomycetes (Subphylum Agaricomycotina)

-Mushrooms, Bracket Fungi, Puffballs, and Allies (Class Agaricomycetes)

-Shelf Fungi (Order Polyporales)

-Bracket Fungi (Family Polyporaceae)

-Genus Trametes

-White Maze Polypore (Trametes elegans)


Trametes is a genus of fungi in the Polyporaceae family, best known for species with thin, leathery bracket-like fruiting bodies and conspicuous concentric zones of colour. Often brightly zoned in bands of white, brown, gray, blue, or even green (from algal growth). Found on logs, stumps, and fallen branches; sometimes appears in large overlapping clusters.

White Maze Polypore

Trametes elegans

Description

  • Trametes elegans is a bracket fungus in the family Polyporaceae. Fruiting bodies are typically fan-shaped to semicircular and leathery or corky, with a smooth to finely hairy upper surface that may show concentric zones of grey, tan, brown, or reddish-brown. The underside is distinctive, with elongated, maze-like pores that can become increasingly gill-like toward the margin.

Range

  • Trametes elegans is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, extending from Mexico through Central and South America and the Caribbean. It occurs in western Mexico, including Guerrero, and is found around Zihuatanejo where suitable woody substrates are present.

Habitat

  • This species grows primarily on dead or weakened hardwoods, including fallen branches, logs, stumps, and standing dead trees. It occurs in tropical dry forest, humid forest, woodland, riparian vegetation, and disturbed areas containing woody debris. The tough fruiting bodies can persist on their substrates for considerable periods.

bottom of page