Phellinus igniarius - Willow Bracket

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Polyporales

You are most likely to come across old, blackened, gnarled and cracked fruitbodies of this bracket (which experts believe is probably a ‘complex’ of several species rather than a single species). That’s because fruitbodies can continue growing for many years, feeding on the remains of the host tree long after it has died. Willows are the preferred victims of this very tough (when mature) bracket, which looks quite similar to the Hoof Fungus. A synonym of Phelinus igniarius is Fomes igniarius.

Identification Guide

Fruitbody	Upper surface grey at first, turning black and developing vertical cracks; outer margin remaining brown and velvety even on very old fruitbodies; up to 40cm across and as much as 20cm thick; hoof-like and concentrically ridged in annual layers.
Tubes and Pores	The tubes are brown, 3 to 5mm deep and spaced at 4 to 6 per mm; they terminate on light-brown pores, sometimes having a purple tinge.
Spore print	Cream to pale yellow.
Odour/taste	Not significant.
Habitat	Restricted to coniferous trees.
Season	Throughout summer and autumn.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Fomes fomentarius is similarly hoof shaped with an overall grey appearance and minute pores that release lemon-yellow spores; it attacks mainly birches.