![]() ![]() ![]() As the fungus eats, and decays, the heartwood of tree, it softens the wood, eventually causing the tree to structurally weaken and ‘trunk fracture’ in high winds. The Heart Rot disease eats away at the trees wooden core, slowly ingesting it over a period of months or years, depending on environmental factors and the initial age and health of the tree when it becomes infected. Inonotus obliquus is part of the Hymenochaetaceae family of fungi that prefer to infest conifers, like Cedar, Pine, Spruce and Yew and deciduous trees like Oak, Elm and of course Birch, causing a disease called ‘Heart Rot’. Therefore, when considering just how much more easily a twig will burn, when lit with a match, compared to an uncut 500-year-old tree trunk the tiny Mycelium hairs should easily catch and hold a comparatively massive spark, even from the relatively cool sparks created by ‘Pyrite & Flint’. So that when a human hair is contrasted with the fungus Mycelium, the human hair will seem to be as a massive 500-year-old tree trunk compared to a twig. When seen under a microscope, the Mycelium of the Chaga fungus is seen to be made from millions if incredibly minute hairs. The texture seems to vary from hard to soft as it also moves deeper into the interior of the conk, there being some apparent correlation with the colour and texture. Just below the black external skin, the interior colouration often ranges from a rich dark brown through to a yellowy, smoky, chamois leather tan as it moves deeper into the interior of the conk often with creamy white flecks. When dry, it has a black, deeply cracked and crusty outer skin that is dense and extremely hard and crumbly when wet the black outer skin feels like stale homemade brown bread that has become wet, slightly crumbly with just a hint of sliminess. The fruiting body of the Inonotus obliquus fungus, or ‘Chaga Conk’, is an irregular parasitical growth that seems to burst out from the trunk and branches of the Birch tree like an ugly black canker, erupting in very slow motion. Photo shows an alternate view of the Chaga conk, showing more of the valued brown fungus. Notice the texture of the black useless outer skin that still has signs of the trees original white bark. This is newly harvested Chaga conk, about the size of a child's small football. The Chaga conk, which often growing to the size of a football, is normally found in the more cooler climates of the Northern hemisphere, where Birch trees and forests are abundant, such as in the Russia, Northern areas of Europe, Scotland, Scandinavia, Canada and certain mountainous areas of North America. We will also look at where and how Chaga grows, where it can be harvested, what it looks like, how it is used, and for what, how it is prepared for both fire making and as a tea substitute and as a medicine, as well as the different qualities and grades that Chaga can be found in.Ĭhaga (Inonotus obliquus) is often referred to as the ‘Birch Conk’ or ‘Clinker Polypore’ and mainly grows on Birch trees, however, it has been reported to be found growing on Elm, Hornbeam, Beech and Alder, although this would seem to be a very rare occurrence. In this article, we will look at the Chaga Fungus, Inonotus obliquus, which is truly one of the best forms of natural tinder for fire lighting around, and is reputed to have some remarkable anti-cancer, tonic and other medicinal effects. 'FLINT & STEEL' Traditional Fire Steel Strikers
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