Sometimes referred to as the Razor Strop Fungus, this large polypore develops from a small white spherical swelling on the side of dead or living birch trees. The fruit bodies are inedible.

Practically only found on dead (or soon to be dead) birch trees. These are annuals, although some claim to have found these that have revived from the previous year.

At first, they have a covering over the pore surface. When the pore surface is freshly exposed, it is white and finely pored, but as it ages, the pores darken a bit, dry out and become separated and tooth-like. There is usually a "lip" around the edge of the pore surface, too.

Cap : 5-25 cm; kidney-shaped in outline; broadly convex to more or less flat; growing shelf-like or hoof-like; dry; with a smooth or somewhat roughened "skin" that often peels away; whitish to pale brownish in age; the margin rolled over smoothly to form a rim around the pore surface. Pore Surface : Whitish, aging grayish brown; 2-4 pores per mm; tubes to 1 cm long. Stem : Absent or rudimentary and stubby. Flesh : White; thick; corky.

Habitat : Alone or gregariously on dead birch trees, logs, and occasionally on living trees; found year-round; occurring wherever birch trees occur naturally

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