Identification: hard white tree fungi

Discussion in 'Fungi, Lichens and Slime Molds' started by MoeFugger, Jan 6, 2007.

  1. MoeFugger

    MoeFugger Member

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    I am trying to figure out what this is.
    These two photos will explain it.
    This stuff is fairly hard. I broke a stick trying to scrape some off to examine.
    Those are plants growing in the top of the stump so don't confuse those with the fungi or lichen
    I am in north Florida and noticed that stuff after a few weeks of rain. The stump is two years old.
    I thought looking up white fungi or lichen would be easy but have not found any photos of this particular stuff. Only about a hundred others.
     

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    Last edited: Jan 20, 2007
  2. Frog

    Frog Generous Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    From what I can see in the photo, it looks like you will need an expert in corticioid fungi: I don't know anyone personally who is willing to put an ID on these sorts of things.
    If you can get a really close up shot of the pore surface, maybe with a millimeter ruler on it, that might help.

    My very very shaky guess: Some sort of Poria sp.
    :-)

    Some pages that might be useful:
    Phlebia coccineofulva, Hyphoderma puberum, and Pulcherricium caeruleum -- some patriotic corticioid (crust) fungiTom Volk's Fungus of the Month for July 2000
    CORTBASE - a nomenclatural database of corticioid fungi

    frog
     
  3. abonefas22

    abonefas22 Member

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    Hi, did you ever figure out what this is? I have it on my sickly Crabapple tree here near Chicago.
    Thanks!
     
  4. MoeFugger

    MoeFugger Member

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    Nope other than generic info nothing specific.
    I belive it is a form of lichen since no fruits (mushrooms) have developed over the past year.
     
  5. allelopath

    allelopath Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    I think you are looking at the fruit.
     
  6. Frog

    Frog Generous Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    i concur with allelopath - those appear to be spore producing pores of a resupinate polypore.
    ...try saying that 5x fast :-)
     
  7. allelopath

    allelopath Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    "resupinate polypore"
    Is that sfw? :)
     
  8. abonefas22

    abonefas22 Member

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    So I should probably cut this tree down? I'm assuming the lichen thinks it's already dead! :)
     
  9. Frog

    Frog Generous Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Greetings!
    It's definitely not a lichen.
    You could try sending the photo to your local Forestry Service, tell them what kind of tree it is and I betcha they will know what this fungus is and what it is doing.
    cheers,
    frog
     
  10. MoeFugger

    MoeFugger Member

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    I read about this resupinate polypore and it was interesting reading. Especially the bit about the brown resupinate polypore eats the white bits of the wood and the white resupinate polypore eats the brown bits. My fungus does have pores and the photos of the resupinate polypore seem very similar but not exact to mine. I am sure it looks a little different in different areas.
     
  11. abonefas22

    abonefas22 Member

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    Thanks so much!
     

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