Kawaratake - Kawaratake

A mushroom of the family Polyporaceae, order Polyporaceae, belonging to the basidiomycetes. It grows on dead trees and dead branches, overlapping in large numbers like roof tiles. The cap is semicircular, strong and leathery, 2-5 cm in diameter, and 1-2 mm thick. The surface has a variety of rings of black, gray-brown, or yellowish brown, and is covered with short, coarse hairs. The flesh is white, and the pores on the underside are fine and white, gray-yellow, or gray. It is the most common wood-decaying fungus, found in Japan and around the world, and causes white rot of wood. There are many variations in color, and the black or indigo-black ones are sometimes called Kurokumotake (black cloud mushroom). It was once considered a folk remedy for cancer, but in recent years its anticancer properties have been studied, leading to the development of an anticancer drug called Krestin. The main component is polysaccharide glucan. The mushroom can also be dried and preserved, and then boiled and drunk.

[Imaseki Rokuya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

担子菌類、サルノコシカケ目サルノコシカケ科のキノコ。枯れ木、枯れ枝に屋根瓦(がわら)状に多数重なり合って生える。傘は半円形で、じょうぶな革質、径2～5センチメートル、厚さは1～2ミリメートルで薄い。表面は黒、灰褐色、黄褐色など多彩な輪紋を描き、短い粗毛を帯びる。肉は白、裏の管孔(くだあな)は微細で、白、灰黄色、灰色など。日本をはじめ世界的に分布するもっとも一般的な木材腐朽菌で、材の白腐れをおこす。色の変異が多く、黒ないし藍(らん)黒色のものをクロクモタケ（黒雲茸）とよぶことがある。癌(がん)の民間薬とされたが、近年その制癌性が研究され、クレスチンという制癌薬がつくられるに至った。主成分は多糖類グルカンである。キノコを乾燥して保存し、煎(せん)じて飲むのもよい。

［今関六也］

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