It's a fungus among us

October 31, 2006 3:55 PM

Mycological help needed. I see these a lot when I am hiking and want to know what they are. Thanks!
posted by DeepFriedTwinkies to grab bag (15 comments total)

I believe they are shelf mushrooms, AKA conks. Possibly red-belted conks. Anyway - search on conks, and shelf mushrooms.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:01 PM on October 31, 2006

A colorful version of typical tree fungi
posted by walleeguy at 4:04 PM on October 31, 2006

Better picture & info here.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:04 PM on October 31, 2006

if you ever see these - they grow in very similar locales - take 50% of it and leave the base (it will come back every year). slice thin and saute in garlic and butter.

hen of the woods is one of the tastiest things in the world.
posted by luriete at 4:09 PM on October 31, 2006

oops, lost link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/billturner/251922494/
posted by luriete at 4:09 PM on October 31, 2006

If you don't find an answer here I'd recommend posting it to the id please group. They're usually very helpful.
posted by entropy at 4:14 PM on October 31, 2006

When it comes to wild fungi, details matter and rule #1 is "If you aren't absolutely certain it's safe to eat, treat it as if it's deadly poisonous."

The one you found might be a "Sulfur Shelf".
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 4:51 PM on October 31, 2006

I maybe would not eat them nor any random unidentified berries but then again, maybe I would...
posted by yodelingisfun at 5:10 PM on October 31, 2006

re: luriete's comment, the original poster's pics are definitely NOT hen of the woods.
posted by gnutron at 5:43 PM on October 31, 2006

on preview: i see luriete's link now. nevermind me....
posted by gnutron at 5:45 PM on October 31, 2006

Yeah, sorry, I should have been more specific. Hen of the Woods occurs in the same environs as several species of shelf fungi that looks just like those the poster is asking about, and Hen of the Woods can't really be mistaken for anything else, so it's just a good idea to keep your eye out for it since it is both rare and delicious.
posted by luriete at 8:05 PM on October 31, 2006

fungus id forum here:
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=199
posted by allelopath at 8:48 PM on October 31, 2006

Around here (Western Canada) we call them "bracket fungi". Never heard of anyone eating one. Image search. If you pick them and dry them, then you can paint amusing scenes of elves and pixies on their white undersurfaces and sell them for up to 5$ at hippydippy urban markets.
posted by Rumple at 8:55 PM on October 31, 2006

Also known as 'bear bread'.
posted by D.C. at 12:09 AM on November 1, 2006

My Audubon suggests red-belted polypore for the OP, sulfur-shelf is doubtful due to the shape and the white-cream colored pores. The "bear bread" looks like cracked-cap polypore to me.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 5:42 AM on November 1, 2006