Steccherinum ochraceum (Pers.) Gray

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Polyporales (insertae sedis)

A wood-rotting crust fungus of deciduous hardwoods, this attractive fungus produces its spores on spines. It is uncommon in the UK but much more abundant in southern Europe.

Fallen oak trunks and large branches are particularly good places to try to find this pale ochre or pinkish crust-cum-bracket species, which has been 'parked' in its present position in the taxonomy of fungi - hence the term 'insertae sedis' mentioned in the taxonomic classification above.

The specimen shown here is young and pale; with age the central part of the fruitbody usually turns more intensely ochre.

Identification Guide

Description	Occasionally in bracket form but more often resupinate; roughly circular or oval when first forming, but expanding irregularly, often in peninsular form covering large areas; when shelf-like, extending horizontally to typically 1 to 2cm beyond edge of substrate; upper surface velvety almost white at edge but elsewhere ochre brown (often rather darker than the specimen shown here); fertile outer surface covered in short blunt spines; infertile surface white and velvety.
Spores	White.
Odour/taste	Not significant .
Habitat	Saprobic on dead broadleaf trunks and fallen branches, particularly of oaks
Season	Summer and autumn.
Occurrence	Uncommon.

Reference Sources

Fascinated by Fungi, Pat O'Reilly 2011

Dictionary of the Fungi; Paul M. Kirk, Paul F. Cannon, David W. Minter and J. A. Stalpers; CABI, 2008

Taxonomic history and synonym information on these pages is drawn from many sources but in particular from the British Mycological Society's GB Checklist of Fungi and (for basidiomycetes) on Kew's Checklist of the British & Irish Basidiomycota.