Fungi ID

[PMG]

I'm very new to this site so apologies if what I'm about to say has been said before. . . but for those of us who take fungi pics with identification questions in mind (in other words ain't it pretty but what the hell is it?!!) I feel I would have a better chance of naming something if more characters were shown (all due deference to FuniJohn of course - who is a wizard on this subject!). Take the pretty shot first by all means, but then (if there are enough) uproot one and lie it down so that the pic shows the gills/pores and stem and in some cases cutting one in half can help with ID too. If there isn't enough or you don't like the idea of taking one then try to get some pics from different angles which show other characteristics. Even when you've done all this it can still be impossible to tell one from another but we will all have had the fun of thinking about it!

[nightshade]

Good idea PMG,including something for scale is a must

[eeyore]

unfortunately it is not always possible, take this one for instance , this is an underside view as it was about 8ft up - not having a ladder handy and being neither 10ft tall or able to fly this was the best i could do ( I think it might be beefstake fungus but wouldnt mind having it confirmed or denied btw)

[PMG]

Yes I know its not always poss - but if it is - it makes the chances of an ID a better bet! And as nightshade said something for scale which I had forgotten!

Your bracket fungus is probably a Ganoderma species. Beefsteak doesn't end up so dried or broken looking - I don't think? I'm sure John will know!