About this fungus
Artist's Bracket is a fungus in the Ganodermataceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A large, hard perennial shelf with a dull ridged grey-brown top and a pale pore surface underneath that permanently marks brown when scratched.
What to check
Confirm fine pores rather than gills and a white to cream underside that immediately bruises dark brown. A section shows stacked annual tube layers. There is no stem, ring or volva, and the upper crust is dull rather than varnished.
Variation
Young margins are white and the upper surface ranges from pale grey-brown to dark umber, becoming increasingly lumpy and often supporting algae with age.
Lookalikes
Ganoderma australe and other applanatum-like brackets can be extremely similar and may need microscopic spore measurements. Varnished Ganoderma have a glossy upper surface. A pale underside that fails to mark brown argues against Artist's Bracket.
Habitat and range
Saprotrophic and sometimes weakly parasitic on broadleaved trees, stumps and logs, especially beech and other hardwoods. It causes white rot and a single bracket can persist for years.
Food safety
Inedible.
Photographs
James Lindsey / CC BY-SA 3.0