[2] It was also referred to as "punk", a general term for any Polyporus fungus dried and used as tinder.

[3] The fungus is a yellowish or white flattened bulbous mass, with a consistency like expanded polystyrene when it is dry, but soft like a sponge when it is thoroughly wet, with a light brown top and paler underside with very small but visible pores, 1–3 pores/mm.

[3] The white-throated treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea) has been recorded feeding on this fungus in a heathy dry forest in Victoria.

[7][8] The fungus has acquired an extensive synonymy in the interim:[9] L. portentosus has been used traditionally as tinder and for carrying fire by both Australian Aboriginals[10] and New Zealand Māori people; when dried and set alight, the fungus will smoulder very slowly, and could be used as a reliable source of ignition.

[2] Māori used pūtawa cut into absorbent strips and bandaged around wounds to protect them from pressure.