Species details
Robust bracket
Fomitiporia robusta
Inedible
Photo: Lucia Elgueta · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A large perennial very hard rusty-brown polypore, especially characteristic of living oaks.
Identification features
Fruitbody about 10–30 cm wide and 5–12 cm thick, semicircular and hard. Old parts are grey-black and cracked, younger parts yellow-ochre to rusty-brown.
Identification checklist
Check the large hard bracket on living oak, rusty-brown interior and very fine rusty pores.
How to separate similar species
Fomitiporia punctata is usually spread flat over the substrate and does not form such a prominent hoof-like bracket.
Habitat
Parasitic mainly on living oaks, less often other hardwoods; perennial fruitbodies are visible year-round.
Fruiting period
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December