Aelios K. Posted September 1, 2022 Report Share Posted September 1, 2022 Found a few inches off the ground on side of standing dead oak tree (maybe red oak). Central East Coast USA. Size: 4x4x5 inches One pic shows where connected to tree. Smell: Faint subtle neutral... Color: Whitish, bruising red/brown While I was carrying it, I felt moisture on my fingers, and discovered it had dripped reddish water on me. Still somewhat soft/squishy to touch. Haven't cut it open yet, but the interior visible at the stump and inside the bite-marks has Lines. Maybe no relation but the interior lines reminds me of Shrimp-of-the-Woods. And the rounded squishy edges are like a resin polypore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted September 1, 2022 Report Share Posted September 1, 2022 Why no photos of the upper surfaces? I think this is Fistulina hepatica, the "Beefsteak Fungus." If correct, the layer of tubes (underside layer with external openings the pore surface) may be separated into individual tubelike/strawlike pieces. When sectioned, the interior should look like the interior of a juicy beefsteak, marbled/streaked with red and whitish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aelios K. Posted September 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2022 Pic 2 is the top! It's weird. There's the stem. And then the rest of the outer surface is uniform, except for all the bug bite holes. Okay, its not quite uniform. I separated it into 3 lobes. Here's a new pic of the "tops". I circled some areas that look flatter and different. If it is "Beefsteak Fungus."... Would you say its mutated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted September 2, 2022 Report Share Posted September 2, 2022 Not a mutation, just the result of three fruit bodies pressed against one another and trying to expand into the same small space. Looks like Fistulina hepatica to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.