eat-bolete Posted December 2, 2014 Report Posted December 2, 2014 I assume this is one of Ganoderma species? Is it useful for anything? It's quite porous and spongy inside, can it be used for fire starting like chaga? I couldn't get a spore print, none were visible. Not sure what tree it grew on, but I think it's some kind of oak. Smells unpleasant.
eat-bolete Posted December 2, 2014 Author Report Posted December 2, 2014 Top of these fungi is dry, cracked, soft and spongy, bottom where the pores are, is hard.
Dave W Posted December 2, 2014 Report Posted December 2, 2014 I think these are an example of Ischnoderma resinosum, the Resin Polypore. Soft and sometimes exuding "resin" when young, it becomes hard/tough in age. I have no info on its edibility. I run across lots of this every fall, but I have not ever tried eating it. http://www.mushroomexpert.com/ischnoderma_resinosum.html
eat-bolete Posted December 2, 2014 Author Report Posted December 2, 2014 Dave, Is that common that the edge is different color? On most of photos of Ischnoderma at mushroomexpert link, the edges are white and the ones I found have dark edges on both young and older specimen. I wouldn't eat it, it has chemical smell and texture of cork.
John Smalldridge Posted December 2, 2014 Report Posted December 2, 2014 Possibly caused by freezing and drying. I find it interesting how long wood growing species can be around. I have been watching a hericium and a laetiporus for a month now and they still are moist. The hericium actually seemed to have grown even more after recent rains.
Dave W Posted December 3, 2014 Report Posted December 3, 2014 From the Mushroom Expert account of I. resinosum, "Pore Surface: When young whitish, soft, promptly bruising brown." This would seem to imply that darkening of the pores requires the application of pressure/injury. But like John said, environmental/atmospheric conditions may hasten a staining reaction. Actually, if you look at the Mushroom Expert photos, the last two show under-developed specimens which show a fair amount of brown. The ones in your photo, eat-bolete, may be older than you think. I. resinosum is one of many types of polypores that develop slowly. I'm not completely confident about these representing I. resinosum. But, I am more confident they are not a type of Ganoderma.
eat-bolete Posted December 3, 2014 Author Report Posted December 3, 2014 Thanks guys, it's good to know what causes differences like that.
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