Species details

Annosum root rot

Heterobasidion annosum

Inedible

Description

A hard perennial bracket fungus on roots and stem bases of conifers, with a brown to dark-brown upper surface, pale margin and white pore surface.

Identification features

The fruitbody is laterally attached and stemless, often irregular and lumpy. The margin may be broadly white; pores are small, round and initially white. Flesh is corky to woody and very tough.

Identification checklist

Check for growth directly from conifer roots or the stem base, a hard perennial bracket without a stem, brown upper surface with a pale margin and a finely pored white underside. Host tree is important.

How to separate similar species

Ganoderma and other brackets can look similar but differ in form, cap surface, pores and host. With old fruitbodies, a photo without the underside and substrate is often insufficient.

Habitat

Parasitic and saprotrophic on roots, stumps and stem bases of conifers, especially pines and other conifers; fruitbodies may persist year-round.

Fruiting period

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December