Inonotus sp.?

[Gerel]

These are on a dead tree in the garden, I think it may have been a beech (there is a splendid M. giganteus at the base of it). The oozing droplets make me think of an Inonotus sp. but I'm not at all sure.



The whole fruiting is approx. 200mm high by 300mm across. Upper surface is smooth to slightly velvety, dark to chocolate brown with a pale margin.

Pores, small 3 to 4 per mm. Cream to pale brown, darkening with handling.



Tubes are short, only a few mm long.



The flesh is firm and quite brittle. There is no particularly distinctive smell that I noticed, just mushroomy.


Any suggestions welcome.

Steve

[fairplay]

Why do you think this is any different ?
The flesh darkens when handled, there is brown banding in one of the photos, the pores seem to be as M.giganteus should be. Plus of course it is already present at the base.

The weeping droplets are present in lots of young brackets, not just Inonotus.
Or have I overlooked an important pointer ?

Neil.

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Why do you think this is any different ?
The flesh darkens when handled, there is brown banding in one of the photos, the pores seem to be as M.giganteus should be. Plus of course it is already present at the base.

The weeping droplets are present in lots of young brackets, not just Inonotus.
Or have I overlooked an important pointer ?

Neil.

Hi Neil,

the overall structure is unlike any M. giganteus I've seen before. Rather than forming a "rosette" around a common base, this has closely packed tiers of overlapping brackets extending some distance up the trunk. Its not very clear in the pictures above, I'll try to get a better illustration tomorrow.

In addition to the Meripilus there are at least half a dozen other species of large fungi growing on this tree (so brace yourselves for more ID questions )

Steve