Could this in any way be Stereum ostrea?

[alindsay]

Found in a broad leafed wood on a fallen trunk of a tree (too decomposed to ID), in early Dec 2011, the older examples had gone completely black, but had held their shape.

After trawling the internet, Stereum ostrea is the best I could come up with. Am I anywhere near, or just wishful thinking as it isn't supposed to be common.

Any other ideas?












Thanks in advance

Alison

[waxcap]

Hi Alison

I think Stereum ostrea lacks a pore surface, and therefore has a smooth underside. In other words, it is a crust fungus rather than a polypore. It looks like your find has a pores on the underside.

Regards

Dave

[Chris Yeates]

hi

Dave is quite correct about the pores; the images area not very clear, but I would suspect old Bjerkandera adusta

btw Stereum ostrea is extremely rare in these islands - there appear to be oldish single authenticated records from Glasgow and County Cork only (ah, the pitfalls of trawling the net)

best wishes

Chris

[alindsay]

Well, I knew I was mad to suggest it, but Bjerkandera adusta and the other tricky fungus Stereum hirsutum have so many guises that WAB ought to start a thread to allow members to post their versions of the day.What a unique collection we could come up with.

Thanks for your answers