Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Oak Mazegill

Facts
Common Name: 
Oak Mazegill
Scientific Name: 
Daedalea quercina
Cap Diameter (mm): 
60-200mm
Cap or Bracket Thickness (mm): 
20-50mm
Information
Description: 

Usually found growing solitary, this large imposing bracket fungus may occasionally occur in tiers, particularly on the cut ends of felled oak trunks. It is seldom seen on other kinds of hardwood timber.

Distribution: 

All year round but sporulating from late Summer till Autumn.

Habitat: 

In broadleaf woodland on dead Oak, occasionally on Sweet Chestnut.

Gills: 

The pores are in the form of large slots interconnected and form a maze-like structure with the slots generally aligned radially. The gill-like slots are ochraceous and 10-40mm deep.

Additional Notes: 

Daedalea quercina is occasionally known as the Maze-gill Fungus, because the very wide gill-like pores are radially-aligned in a pattern resembling a maze. It is from the labyrinth like pores that this bracket fungus gets its scientific name. In Greek mythology, Daedalus constructed a labyrinth at Knossos for King Minos of Crete, and in that labyrinth lived the Minotaur.