Shelf Fungus

Why is it called mycology?

“Mycology” comes from the Greek words mykos, which means “fungi,” 

and “-logy,” which means “the study of.”

 

Douglas Fir Snapped

This Douglas fir is close to the meadow. 

Shelf Fungus - Polypores - Ceramic Parchment Crust Fungus

These ceramic or parchment fungus are full of pores.

All on one branch.

This is the largest. No curling down from the edge. 

Xylobolus frustulatus, commonly known as the ceramic fungus or ceramic parchment, is an inedible species of crust fungus in the Stereaceae family. The fruit body forms small, hard, flat crust-like aggregations that resemble broken pieces of ceramic tile. These pieces are initially whitish before turning yellow-brown to gray-brown in age. The spore-bearing cells cover the upper surfaces of the fruit body. A saprobic species, it grows on well-decayed oak wood.

Measuring Shelf Fungus

This is the smaller one on top of the log. 

This is the one on the side of the log. 

Shelf Fungus

Polypores

This could be a Cinnabar Red Polypore, color identifies it from most other common shelf mushrooms. Young specimens have a striking cinnamon to red to orange color that fades over time.

Gilled polypore.

 

Young Buck

Young buck in the preserve today. 

 

False Turkey-Tail Fungus Stereum Ostrea

Trametes versicolor.

 Trametes versicolor – also known as Coriolus versicolor and Polyporus versicolor – is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Meaning 'of several colors', versicolor accurately describes this fungus that displays a unique blend of markings.

If you can answer “YES” to all the following questions about the mushroom you’re observing, then you’ve found true turkey tail!

1. Are there pores on the underside of your mushroom?

2. Does the top side of the mushroom have very fine hairs making it velvety to the touch?

3. Are there concentric bands of different shades on the top side of the mushroom?

4. Is the fresh mushroom thin and flexible?

Underside is not white!

5. White underside.

6. Tiny holes on underside.

Fungus - Polypores

This shows two different varieties of polypore fungus.

One has a smooth back side. 

 Their simple, shelving fruiting bodies have a smooth hymenium, lacking gills or tubes.

It is called false turkey tail sterium. 

One has a gilled back side. 

Gloeophyllum sepiarium, the rusty gilled polypore

This is a rusty gilled polypore.

Polypores are also called bracket fungi or shelf fungi, and they characteristically produce woody, shelf- or bracket-shaped or occasionally circular fruiting bodies that are called conks.

Yellow Jelly Fungus

This yellow fungus is growing on a dead branch.

There are several patches of this on dead trees. 

 

Deer and Buck This Morning

 

Bracket Fungus - Gilled Polypore

Top and underside of this beautiful fungus. 

Gilled Polypore (Trametes betulina)

Gilled polypore is a widespread bracket or shelf fungus which grows on dead hardwood trees and aids in their decomposition. 

The underside of this one. 

The irregular "gills" on its undersurface are really just elongated pores, but nevertheless help to differentiate it from turkey tail (T. versicolor), which can bear a resemblance when viewed from above, but has typical pores underneath.

Mushrooms By the Pavilion

Several large mushrooms in the flower beds by the mailboxes.

Near the Pavilion.

Center red one is amanita muscaria, hallucinogen. 

Others are all of the genus Amanita.

Stereum Fungi - Stereum Hirsutum

These are also called false turkey tail fungi.

The underside is yellow, no gills,

This is a beautiful stump full of these fungi.

The stump is near the bench by the stairs. 

Stereum is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Stereum ostrea, also called false turkey-tail and golden curtain crust, is a basidiomycete fungus in the genus Stereum. It is a plant pathogen and a wood decay fungus. The name ostrea, from the word 'oyster', describes its shape. Stereum species are wood decay fungi. Their simple, shelving fruiting bodies have a smooth hymenium, lacking gills or tubes.

Rusty Gilled Polypore

 
Shelf or bracket fungus.

These are the gills on the under side of these polypore.

Found on a piece of fallen oak tree limb.

Dark brown and yellow in it's young stage.

Gloeophyllum sepiarium, the rusty gilled polypore, is a wood decay fungus that causes a brown rot. It grows in thin, dark brown brackets on dead trees. The fruiting body grows for only one year, and produces spores in late summer and autumn.  The rusty-gilled polypore is extremely common across North America. The gills are evident on the underside.

Young Buck

Young buck has the same markings as the big buck.