Shelf-like to hoof-like & usually on wood


The fruitbodies of the fungi in this group grow from wood, but sometimes that wood may be buried. They range from fairly thin, shelf-like or bracket-like growths (with horizontal extent much greater than vertical thickness) to those that are very chunky (with vertical thickness equal to, or even greater than, horizontal extent).

 

In some species with shelf-like fruitbodies the shelves are wavy, rather than absolutely flat.

 

As well as the wholly shelf-like fruitbodies there are those that are flat sheet+shelf. These start as a flat growth on a downward facing surface (e.g. the lower side of a leaning trunk or of a fallen branch lying on the ground). After a while the upper edge of this sheet-like growth turns out from the wood to form a horizontal shelf. Technically such a composite growth form is described as effused-reflexed (effused: the sheet-like bit; reflexed: the shelf). In some species the shelf constitutes a significant proportion of the fruitbody and such species are included here.

 

There are other species that either remain flat on wood or where the margins of the mature fruitbody occasionally turn away from the wood, but very little and only to form a slight horizontal lip, with almost all of the mature fruitbody still the flat area. Look for those in Other fungi on wood.

 

Sometimes, understandably, you will be unsure whether you have a ‘shelf ‘or a ‘lip’. After all, a lip may be only an immature stage in the formation of a shelf. In a simple guide such as this, it is impossible to give a definitive answer for each case. The only possible advice is to look in each category and see if other features suggests a species or genus for your sighting.

 

Warnings

Some species which normally produce shelf-like to hoof-like fruitbodies can show considerable plasticity in fruitbody form, depending on where the fruitbody develops. For example, Pycnoporus coccineus (see the pored/maze-like sub-group) almost always produces shelf-like fruitbodies but you may find no more than a thick crust (seen on the underside of a ceiling) or an inverted, shallow cone (seen on the top side of a fallen branch). In such cases you would, quite understandably, look for a match to your sighting in some other category.

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Discussion

Jennybach wrote:
10 hrs ago
An organism with a fascinating back story, thanks :)

Trametes coccinea
Pam wrote:
10 hrs ago
Great information. Thanks Heino and Mike. Prickly Pear....well oops!!!

Trametes coccinea
Mike wrote:
Yesterday
And some Australian history ... Cochineal is also made by South American scale insects, used by Aztecs and later by Spanish invaders. This insect was brought to Australia in 1788 to start a local industry that would destroy the Spanish monopoly of red dye for military uniforms (redcoats). The insects did not fare very well but their host plants did extremely well - prickly pear.

Trametes coccinea
Jennybach wrote:
Yesterday
Fascinating. I am interested. I listen and look for root words in plant names that English shares as it helps me remember the scientific names. When I started in Landcare 2 years ago my convenor suggested I learn the scientific names as the common names are inexact and can be confusing. Very good advice I find. I’ll check it out. Thanks

Trametes coccinea
Heinol wrote:
Yesterday
Coccinea and cochineal are both derived from the Latin word coccinus, meaning scarlet. That in turn is related to the Greek kokkos which had several meanings, one of which was ‘gall of kermes oak’. Kermes oak is native to the Mediterranean area and Kermes scale insects produce galls that were used to produce a crimson dye. For a long time the standard classical Greek dictionary for use by English-speaking students and scholars was that by Henry Liddell & Robert Scott and, if you’re keen, you can see the kokkos entry at - https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dko%2Fkkos. Wikipedia’s entry about kermes dye is here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermes_(dye).

Trametes coccinea
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