Giant fungus sticking out from the fork in a tree. [photo]
Kenwood at Abbott
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Archived by the Ann Arbor District Library
Giant fungus sticking out from the fork in a tree. [photo]
» Want more items like this one? Visit the Stopped. Watched. page.
Indication of heartrot, I’m afraid.
A Polyphorus (wood-rotting fungus that doesn’t attack living tissue).
Yes- I’m a plant pathologist and mycologist.
but Vivienne – is it edible? because if so, I think I just found dinner… ;-)
The polypores are generally safe but not all are good to eat. Since I made a claim to expert status, too bad I didn’t spell it correctly (Polyporus). If it’s the one I think it is, you’ll find it to be woody and tasteless. Some of these are wonderful, including Laetiporus sulphureus (a bright yellow to orange).
I don’t encourage people to eat mushrooms without a positive identification. If you are unfamiliar with a fungus, you should key it down using a reliable guide. My favorite is still the series by Alexander Smith and his daughter N.S. Weber. There are no “rules” for safe mushrooms.