Southern Bracket 'Ganoderma australe' fungi growing in autumn Beech woods near Dorchester town, Dorset county, England, UK.
The 'Southern Bracket' fungi ('Ganoderma australe' Poriales) shown in this photo was found attached to a tree trunk in Beech woodland near Dorchester town, Dorset county, England, UK. They take the form of brackets projecting horizontally from the host wood (dead and standing tree habitat) growing all year round and up to 60cm in width. The fungus can be very thick at the base with a red/brown surface colour and with a cream/white underside. As shown in this photo - the trunk of the tree, lower brackets and nearby foliage is often covered in brown spores, looking like cocoa powder. Most 'Poriales' are very tough and inedible but a few are considered good to eat when the fruiting bodies are young. The tough, often leathery growths mainly appear on dead trees and occasionally on living trees with just a few species growing on soil. Some bracket fungi can be used for other purposes such as as a slow-burning fuel for fires or as raw materials in dye-making.
Size: 5725px × 5678px
Location: near Dorchester, Dorset county, England, UK
Photo credit: © Steve Atkins Photography / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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