Unidentified Bracket Fungus

[gallfan]

This fungus is growing on the Turkey Oak in my back garden in Reading. I don't know what kind it is or if it has died.

[Chris Yeates]

hello and welcome to WAB

the cinnamon-coloured ?spore deposit on the ivy and surrounding bark would suggest a Ganoderma species - is there a similar deposit on the leaves below the fungus?

as has been discussed before on this site, generally the only definite way you can get Ganodermas to species is by checking spore sizes

best

Chris

[hamadryad]

This could be an old Ganoderma resinaceum, but like the man says without a scope its impossible to be certain. G. resinaceum would be where my money goes though.

[fairplay]

I would expect to see more of a lip around the edge for resinaceum, I would feel safer sticking to one of the two 'A's.

Neil.

[gallfan]

Thanks for your help.

I had another look at it today and clearly it is not dead. There are spores underneath. I've looked at images on the web for the species you've all suggested and it does seem to look like adspersum or applanatum. There is a dark brown rim just underneath which is about 15mm wide.

Is it the size or the shape or both of the spores that is used for identification? I shall try to get some under a microscope.

I'm quite new to Fungi as you have probably guessed and I'm just amazed at the variation within the species!

Leanne

[flaxton]

Leanne
The shape is basically the same but the spores of G applanatum are smaller than G australe.

Mal

[fairplay]

Leanne,

Anticipating your next question, Ganoderma australe is the 'newly' accepted name for G.adspersum.

Neil.

[flaxton]

Thanks Neil

Mal

[thelawnet]

Originally Posted by gallfan

Thanks for your help.

I had another look at it today and clearly it is not dead. There are spores underneath. I've looked at images on the web for the species you've all suggested and it does seem to look like adspersum or applanatum. There is a dark brown rim just underneath which is about 15mm wide.

Is it the size or the shape or both of the spores that is used for identification? I shall try to get some under a microscope.

The presence of galls on the pore surface, which are caused by the grubs of the yellow flat-footed fly, Agathomyia wankowiczii, is definitive of applanatum.

Their absence mean it could be either species, but applanatum is generally thinner, and the flesh streaked with white.