Fistulina hepatica - Beefsteak Fungus

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Another common name for this parasitic bracket is the Ox Tongue fungus. Oak timber that has been infected with this parasite is greatly valued by wood turners and cabinet makers, who sometimes refer to it as 'Brown Oak'. If you cut through the flesh of Fistulina hepatica, the Beefsteak Fungus, it certainly does look like a slice of prime beef; unfortunately the taste is not as good as the appearance. Young specimens are rather more palatable, and are best simmered slowly to soften the flesh.

Identification Guide

This bracket is commonly known as the Beefsteak fungus because it looks so much like raw meat and, when cut, bleeds quite convincingly too. Unfortunately, as an edible species it does not really live up to its appearance, being rather tough and bitter tasting when fully developed.

	Description This very young fruiting body is only 5cm across, but when it is fully developed it will be much larger and shaped even more like an ox tongue. The upper surface gradually turns deep red with a rough warty surface.
	Tubes and Pores The straw-yellow pores become reddish-brown as the fruiting body ages; they bruise deep red-brown. It is very easy to separate the tubes which, unlike those of many other polypores, are not bonded together.
Size	10 to 25cm across and 3 to 6cm thick.
Spore print	Pale pinkish yellow.
Odour/taste	Bitter, acidic taste; no distinctive odour.
Habitat	Low on the trunks of oak and sweet chestnut trees.
Season	July to October; not persisting through the winter.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Inonotus hispidus is a similar large red bracket with a hairy upper surface; it occurs on dead and dying oak trees.