decays the living silver beech trunks

Size
Width: 20–50 cm
Lifespan
1 years
Diet
Parasitic: feeds on living silver beech trees. Causes wood decay.
Habitat
On living silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii) trees. Causes wood decay.
Range
Throughout New Zealand on living silver beech trees. Most common in South Island.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Habitat loss from land clearance and forest fragmentation. Dependent on mature beech.
Population
Populations are considered stable but dependent on mature beech forest.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
caution
Handling Note
inedible; do not ingest
Conservation Note
Endemic fungus; not assessed by NZTCS as fungi are generally outside the scope of current threat classifications.
Te Ao Māori
In Māori tradition, Pūtawa was highly valued for its ability to smoulder for hours. The dried fungus was used to carry fire between camps. It served as a portable heat source. It was also used as tinder for starting fires. The preparation involved drying the bracket in the sun. This process ensured a long, slow burn. It was an essential item for travelling Māori. The knowledge of how to harvest and prepare it was widespread. The fungus provided a critical technology for survival in damp conditions. Its role in daily life was significant. The ability to transport fire allowed for greater mobility. The Pūtawa was not merely a resource. It was a tool. The cultural significance lies in its utility. It represents a practical adaptation to the environment. The tradition of using it persists in historical accounts. The fungus remains a symbol of resourcefulness. Its value was recognised by all who travelled the forests. The glow of the Pūtawa was a beacon in the bush.
It grows on living silver beech trees. This is the Pūtawa, a large bracket fungus that carries fire. The fruiting body is thick and hoof-shaped. It spans twenty to fifty centimetres across. The colour is greyish-brown. The texture is woody. It can persist on the tree trunk for years. It slowly grows larger. A new layer of pores is added each season. It is a fungus that grows like a tree. The accumulation is steady. The presence is permanent. This fungus is a parasite. It enters the tree through wounds in the bark. Then it slowly rots the heartwood from the inside out. The tree may live for decades with the fungus. But eventually, the decay will weaken it. The structure fails. The Pūtawa is so closely associated with silver beech that it is rarely found on any other host. The relationship is specific. The dependency is absolute. When dried, the fruiting body smoulders for hours. It produces a steady, smokeless burn. The tough, woody flesh acts like a slow fuse. It holds the fire without flaming. This made Pūtawa invaluable to Māori for carrying fire between camps. A piece of dried fungus could be lit in the morning. It would still be glowing at the end of a day's travel. The utility was immediate. The reliability was total. To prepare Pūtawa for carrying fire, the fungus was harvested from living trees. It was then dried in the sun or over a low fire. The dried bracket was broken into manageable pieces. When a fire was needed, the glowing fungus was placed in a bundle of dry tinder. It was blown into flame. The process was simple. The result was essential. In Māori tradition, Pūtawa was an essential item for travelling parties. The forest is damp. The Pūtawa grows on the silver beech. It is hoof-shaped and woody. It is greyish-brown. A piece is harvested and dried. It glows. It carries fire. The fungus does not know it is a fire-carrier. It does not know it is essential. It simply exists on the decaying wood. It breaks down the lignin. It releases the nutrients. It carries on. It just wants to rot the tree. The ember that never dies. The Pūtawa is proof.