Comments on: It's a fungus among us

Question: It's a fungus among us

DeepFriedTwinkies — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:55:19 -0800

Mycological help needed. I see these a lot when I am hiking and want to know what they are. Thanks!

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:01:29 -0800

I believe they are shelf mushrooms, AKA conks. Possibly red-belted conks. Anyway - search on conks, and shelf mushrooms.

By: walleeguy

walleeguy — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:04:04 -0800

A colorful version of typical tree fungi

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:04:52 -0800

Better picture & info here.

By: luriete

luriete — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:09:10 -0800

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.

By: luriete

luriete — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:09:21 -0800

oops, lost link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/billturner/251922494/

By: entropy

entropy — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:14:08 -0800

If you don't find an answer here I'd recommend posting it to the id please group. They're usually very helpful.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:51:27 -0800

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".

By: yodelingisfun

yodelingisfun — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:10:09 -0800

I maybe would not eat them nor any random unidentified berries but then again, maybe I would...

By: gnutron

gnutron — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:43:06 -0800

re: luriete's comment, the original poster's pics are definitely NOT hen of the woods.

By: gnutron

gnutron — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:45:03 -0800

on preview: i see luriete's link now. nevermind me....

By: luriete

luriete — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:05:16 -0800

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.

By: allelopath

allelopath — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:48:27 -0800

fungus id forum here:
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=199

By: Rumple

Rumple — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:55:11 -0800

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.

By: D.C.

D.C. — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:09:51 -0800

Also known as 'bear bread'.

By: KirkJobSluder

KirkJobSluder — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:42:12 -0800

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.