I am curious to know what fungus this is growing on a dead Arbutus log. The picture was taken at the end of October several years ago.
@Margot good evening Margot, I have been doing some reading on black fungi after finding some King Alfreds cakes in my woods. Yours maybe Black Witches Butter Exidia glandulosa.
Wow - very cool @Margot ! Looks like it would be hard/crispy rather than soft but do you recall the texture? Also do you recall the rough diameter? Arbutus substrate narrows down the options a bit, assuming this is attached and did not fall and land on the wood.
I have to smile at your reaction that my ugly fungus is 'really cool' @Frog! Beauty in the eye of the beholder, for sure! Here is another picture of the same fungus on another dead Arbutus limb nearby. I'd say the first was at least 8 or 9 inches long. It did not have a soft texture. Perhaps this is one of the many fungi that attack and kill Arbutus. Thanks to you and @Acerholic for your replies.
... :-) yup it is kinda ugly but it is so unusual looking that it sets off my cool! reaction first Interesting! The large size excludes many possibilities, and the position in the branch-holes adds some habitat information. It resembles Kretzschmaria deusta, which I find on Big Leaf Maples, and am not sure if it would grow on Arbutus or not. Looking forward to figuring this out!
