I know exactly nothing about fungi, but I wonder if I've identified these correctly as Trametes - Turkey Tail mushroom, in the Polyporales group, doing their job assisting in the decomposition of this ex-'Shirotae' cherry (the one in the background in the first photo). They're mostly on the rootstock, which is not 'Shirotae' but likely Prunus avium or some sort of sweet cherry, but there are some on the cultivar branches.
Hi Wendy, You are likely right that it is Turkey Tail: The habitat makes sense, and I think I can see pores in the undersides. Colour on the topside a bit washed out but still in the range of the variability of appearance of Turkey Tails. However, the more I learn about polypores recently, including the variety of Trametes species and similar genera like Cerrena, the more chary I have become about making positive IDs for Trametes versicolor, particularly if looking at a photo rather than handling a specimen. cheers :-) -frog
This is a different location, different cherry, 'Akebono' cultivar on Prunus avium rootstock. Is this likely to be the same as what was shown above? Are these photos any better for making an ID? This is the tree and what it looked like last week.
+1 for "chary" chary (adj.) Old English cearig "sorrowful, full of care," the adjective from care (n.), q.v. Sense evolved 16c. from "full of care" to "careful." Compare the sense evolution of careful. Meaning "sparing, frugal" is from 1560s. Cognate with Old Saxon carag, Old High German charag "full of sorrow, trouble, or care." Related: Charily; chariness. chary | Etymology, origin and meaning of chary by etymonline
