The species is formerly known as Antrodia variiformis in Europe but species with this name has its distribution only in North America now. Ryvarden et Melo (2017) reclassified Fomitopsis labyrinthica to Antrodia labyrinthica and Antrodia kmetii, a new species recently described (Vlasák et al. 2013), identified with A. labyrinthica.

A rare European species, surviving in old-growth forests and virgin forests on decaying wood of conifers.

A. labyrinthica occurs on dead wood of Abies alba and in Europe was formerly known only from Northern Italy (Ryvarden et Melo 2014). Ryvarden et Melo (2017) mention distribution of A. labyrinthica in southern Europe – Croatia, France, Italy, Slovakia (it is disputable geographical classification) and Spain.

Kotlaba (1985) presents only fir (Abies alba) as a substrate for three collections of A. variiformis in Czechoslovakia and regards the species as extremely rare. Bernicchia et al. (2007a) assigned F. labyrinthica as very rare species on fir in Italy. Tortić (1998) included A. variiformis into list of indicator fungi for old forests of beech and fir and connects its occurrence only with wood of Abies, on five localities. Karadelev et Rusevska (2016) present only one record of the same species from Macedonia, on fir. Spirin et al. (2017) link the species (under name A. kmetii) also with fallen trunks of fir, besides Abies alba also with A. pinsapo.

The species occurs in submontane and montane mixed old-growth forests in Slovakia, with different, but minimal influence of a man, consisting of different tree species. Records are from 500 to 875 m above sea level.

Fruiting bodies of Antrodia labyrinthica are annual, resupinate to effused-reflexed, less often sessile, whitish in colour and are reported from decaying wood of conifers. They were only found on the Silver fir fallen trunks in late initial and intermediate stages of wood decay, during a whole year.

The habitat of A. labyrinthica, old-growth forests with conifers, is declining due to clearcutting, intensive forest practices (e.g. processing conifer trees attacked by bark beetle) and removing logs of Abies sp. after wind storms or pest outbreaks (salvage cuttings), even from protected areas.

Protection of the old forests with deciduous trees, leaving dead wood to the forests.

No uses have been recorded.

RYVARDEN L., MELO I. (2014): Poroid fungi of Europe. – Synopsis Fungorum 31. Fungiflora, Oslo.