unidentified fungi on dead hardwood

[Fungus Ken]

An unknown from 2006. Growing in my local patch on dead hardwood.

Didn't have a decent camera with me, so the shots aren't brilliant, and I wasn't in a position to bring it back for identification, so I don't have a name for it.





Any suggestions as to what and why would be very welcome.

Ken

[Leif]

"Any suggestions as to what and why would be very welcome."

What: Postia?
Why: They just are.

[Fungus Ken]

Thanks for that Leif. Now I'll know how to recognise this one in future - it is what it is because that's what it is.

Postia was on my short list but I couldn't place which species so I kept an open mind.

Any further comments welcome.

Ken

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

Thanks for that Leif. Now I'll know how to recognise this one in future - it is what it is because that's what it is.

Postia was on my short list but I couldn't place which species so I kept an open mind.

Any further comments welcome.

Ken

I thought your "Why" was more existential i.e. why would the fungus exist. It did seem an odd question. I now see what you meant.

Yes, I thought you would have considered Postia. I could not think of anything similar, apart from Antrodia, which does not really fit as it is more resupinate than bracket-like. Was it bitter tasting? I tend to nibble these white spongy things.

[Fungus Ken]

Yes, I like to have a nibble too. But it wasn't bitter.

(The first post was far too early in the day for me to be existential. I only get existential after a glass of wine or too, like now for instance. At this point I am quite open to discussing why in an existential sense.)

Ken

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by Leif

I could not think of anything similar, apart from Antrodia, which does not really fit as it is more resupinate than bracket-like.

Some species of Antrodiella produce distinct brackets, for example Antrodiella semisupina, but I am not familiar with any species in this genus so this was another one on my shortlist.

Other possibilities included very young Oxyporus populinus or Postia subcaesia that hasn't developed any blue colour. Now I wish had just carried it back home to identify because it's really irritating me.

Perhaps I'll find it again and have a go with microscopy.

Ken

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

Perhaps I'll find it again and have a go with microscopy.

I regard many if not most of these brackets as unidentifiable on the fly, and requiring note taking, and microscopy. I suppose I have become an obsessive note taker due to many years getting back home with a pile of fungi, and finding that each one could fit multiple species depending on the host, or associated organism, which I had not noted down. You seem to be a note taker too, so I'm surprised you did not id this one.

That said, I found a very rare fungus a year or two ago, but can only say that is is either a species known only in four counties, or a slightly more common one. I was tired, and only took a photo for the sake of it, but took no sample. In fact I think I will post here in a new thread.

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by Leif

You seem to be a note taker too, so I'm surprised you did not id this one.

Depends on priorities. On some outings looking at fungi is "permitted" (by a higher authority), on others it can only be a quick glance and snap with the camera - and no samples taken home - if penance is to be avoided.

Ken