It's a crust with pores...

[solus]

I have a funny feeling I'm going to wish I'd never bothered with this but you know how it is: kick over a log and there, lurking underneath is.... another white crust!

This was on the underside of a rotten log with no bark and if I hadn't turned it over, I'd have been none the wiser there was anything there! All I know for sure is that it was (once) part of a deciduous tree growing in an old Cotswold wood of Beech, Birch, coppiced Hazel and the occasional Oak.

It was very thin and felt dry with small areas peeling off quite easily, the side stuck to the wood was tan colored and the (upper) pore surface white with pale peachy tints.

Can anyone please suggest what it might be??
Thanks.

[SheffieldLass]

Oh dear, people aren't flocking to answer this one .... now if it had a stalk you'd probably do a lot better!

I have to admit, there are some logs I put back and move on from quickly, so you've got full marks for enthusiasm/optimism .....

Melanie

[diggleken]

Might not be a crust Solus - I see some parts are starting to bend over, sort of - possible bracket in development?
Trametes spp?
Cheers
Ken

[solus]

Thanks for the suggestion Ken but I think "peeling off" describes this better than "possible bracket in development"! I still reckon it's a crust and Melanie's right - I should probably have left this one alone. Still, nothing venture....

When it stops blowing a gale and pouring down with rain I'll go and see if I can find something with a stalk....

[diggleken]

Youre probably right! My best guess then is good old schizapora paradoxa.
Ken

[kiltoncomp]

try a google image search for Skeletocutis, they are very variable but there are some very similar ones to yours on there,
but there again it could well be something totally different

[CapAndBracket]

You were right to post it, i was waiting to see if an expert would express an
opinion.
I think i'm safe in saying its not Shizopora but skeletocutis is a possibility,
and yes it may turn into a bracket as it emerges from under the log.

Cheers J.P.

[mollisia]

Hallo,

Skeletocutis was also one of my options when seeing the picture, but being no good help in those Poriales, I didn't dare to answer.
Another possibility is perhaps Junghuhnia nitida, but I have not found this one peeling of from the wood and also it should be a bit brighter coloured and thicker perhaps?

best regards,
Andreas

[solus]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have *whispers in case Chris hears!* 'googled' Skeletocutis and Junghuhnia and some pics do look similar but I guess this is just going to have to stay as unidentified for now. It was very thin like paper when I peeled a bit off.

I didn't kick many logs or pick up many sticks on our walk this afternoon! (See, I AM learning!!)
I did find some nice (but not so nice for the tree, I suppose) Brittle Cinder [Kretzschmaria deusta] lurking at the base of a Beech...