Habitat
This species is a common parasite found on dead or living trunks of deciduous trees, particularly alder. It typically fruit in large, overlapping clusters that are broadly attached to the wood and can sometimes grow down the surface of the substrate. It is known for causing a white, flaky decay in its host trees.
Photos
Appearance
- Bracket
- Individually measuring 2–9 cm across and 1–2 cm thick, these annual fruit bodies grow in large, overlapping tiers. They are semi-circular, broadly attached to the wood, and can be flat or slightly decurrent. Initially apricot to yellowish-brown, they turn reddish-brown and finally black with age. The surface texture is finely velvety when young, becoming hairless, lumpy, and radially wrinkled or zoned.
- Pores
- Measuring 2–4 per mm, the pores are angular to circular and can become irregular or appearing slit-like. Initially whitish to pale buff, they turn dark brown with age. When fresh, they reflect light with a silvery, glancing effect.
- Tubes
- Ranging from 3–10 mm deep, the tubes are colored whitish to rusty brown.
- Flesh
- Rusty brown to reddish-brown with a somewhat shiny appearance. The texture is soft and watery-spongy when fresh but becomes hard, woody, and bitter-tasting when dry. It has a faint, sweet smell.
- Stem
- Absent; the fungus is attached directly to the bark of the host tree.
- Spore print
- Yellowish.
Sporecast is better in the app
Plan ahead with 10-day forecasts, see what people are finding nearby, get photo IDs, and track your finds.
Edibility
The flesh of this species has a bitter taste and a woody, watery-spongy, or soft texture that becomes hard and woody when dry. It is considered inedible.
Misidentification can be fatal. Never eat a mushroom unless you're 100% sure. This information may be inaccurate. Always consult multiple sources.
Nutrient Source
SaprotrophicIt obtains nutrients by decomposing dead or weakened trees, playing a role in nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems.
Common Names
- Danish
- Elle-spejlporesvamp
- Dutch
- Elzeweerschijnzwam, Elzenweerschijnzwam
- English
- Alder Bracket
- Finnish
- lepänkääpä
- French
- Polypore radié, Polypore de l'aulne
- German
- Erlen-Schillerporling
- Norwegian Bokmål
- orekjuke
- Norwegian Nynorsk
- orekjuke
- Swedish
- alticka
- Welsh
- Ysgwydd y Gwern
Synonyms
- Boletus radiatus
- Fomes radiatus
- Fomes variegatus
- Inoderma radiatum
- Inoderma radiatum
- Inodermus polymorphus
- Inodermus radiatus
- Inonotus polymorphus
- Inonotus polymorphus
- Inonotus radiatus
- Mensularia radiata — Alder Bracket
- Microporus aureonitens
- Microporus polymorphus
- Microporus radiatus
- Ochroporus polymorphus
- Ochroporus radiatus
- Placodes variegatus
- Polyporus aureonitens
- Polyporus aureonitens
- Polyporus coffeaceus
- Polyporus cucullatus
- Polyporus polymorphus
- Polyporus radiatus
- Polystictus aureonitens
- Polystictus polymorphus
- Polystictus radiatus
- Polystictus radiatus
- Polystictus scrobiculatus
- Trametes radiata
- Xanthochrous aureonitens
- Xanthochrous radiatus