AMADOU  , a soft tough substance used as

tinder, derived from Polyporus fomentarius, a fungus belonging to the group Basidiomycetes and somewhat resembling a mushroom in manner of growth . It grows upon old trees, especially the oak, ash, fir and cherry . The fungus is cut into slices and then steeped in a solution of nitre . Amadou is prepared on the continent of Europe, chiefly in Germany, but the fungus is a native of Britain . Polyporus igniarius and other species are also used, but yield an inferior product .