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Bracket Fungi
Page Last Updated: October 7 2020
25 species
Chicken of the Woods - cap (shelf) to 30 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Laetiporus
Species: Sulphureus
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Also known as Sulphur (or Sulfur) Shelf - similar to
Laetiporus cincinnatus
Dryad's Saddle - cap to 30 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Species: Squamosus
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Also known as Pheasant's Back Mushroom
More Dryad's Saddle
Updated February 8 2015
Late Fall Polypore - cap (shelf) to 25 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Fomitopsidaceae (Hapalopilaceae?)
Genus: Ischnoderma
Species: Resinosum
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Turkey Tail - cap (shelf) to 8 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Trametes
Species: Versicolor (diverse colours)
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Turkey Tail
Updated October 11 2014
Many similar species
Birch Polypore - cap (shelf) to 25 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Fomitopsidaceae
Genus: Piptoporus
Species: Betulinus
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Birch Polypore
Updated August 20 2012
Also known as Birch Bracket, Razor Strop - fruits on dead
Birch trees
Lacquered Polypore - cap (shelf) to 30 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Ganodermataceae (formerly Polyporaceae?)
Genus: Ganoderma
Species: Lucidum
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Lacquered Polypore
Updated January 21 2014
Also known as Reishi Mushroom - may be stalked or
bracket form - similar to Red-banded Polypore (see
below)
Also known as Resinous Polypore - similar to Red-banded
Polypore (Fomitopsis pinicola) and Artist's Conk
(Ganoderma applanatum) - exudes amber coloured fluid
when young
More Late Fall Polypore
Updated September 29 2012
Hen of the Woods - cap to 10 cm - width to 60 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Meripilaceae
Genus: Grifola
Species: Frondosa
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Also known as Sheep's Head, Ram's Head - similar to
Polyporus umbellatus - usually found at the base of Oak
trees - often grows in the same place for a number of
years
More Hen of the Woods
Updated October 22 2012
More Chicken of the Woods
Updated March 15 2019
Tinder Polypore - cap (shelf) to 15 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Fomes
Species: Fomentarius
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Tinder Polypore
Updated March 20 2019
Also known as Horse's Hoof, Tinder Bracket, Amadou -
Amadou can be used as tinder, a drying agent or a
smoldering agent - similar to Phellinus igniarius - fruits on
dead deciduous trees or logs (often Birch)
Little Nest Polypore - cap 1 to 2 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Trametes (also Poronidulus)
Species: Conchifer
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Early stage resembles Bird's Nest Fungus - later stages
develop shelf-like brackets to 5 cm - fruits on dead
hardwood trees
Crust Fungus (Phlebia genus) - approx. 15 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Meruliaceae (formerly Corticiaceae?)
Genus: Phlebia (also Merulius)
Species: Radiata? Tremellosa?
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Phlebia Fungus
Updated December 2 2012
P. radiata known as Wrinkled Crust - P. tremellosa also
known as Merulius tremellosus - fruits on dead trees
Hexagonal-pored Polypore - cap to 10 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Polyporus
Species: Alveolaris
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Hexagonal-pored Polypore
Updated December 2 2012
Binomial name also Polyporus mori, Favolus canadensis,
Favolus alveolaris and others - stem not always present -
this one was growing towards the branch (I assume it grew
on underside of branch before it fell) - fruits on decaying
(sometimes living) branches and logs
Ceramic Parchment Fungus - approx. 30 cm
Order: Russulales
Family: Stereaceae
Genus: Xylobolus (also Stereum)
Species: Frustulatus
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Ceramic Parchment Fungus
Updated December 29 2012
Also known as Ceramic Tile or Oak Mosaic - fruits on
decayed hardwood trees, especially Oak
More Little Nest Polypore
Updated November 10 2013
Cotylidia diaphana - height to 4 cm
Order: Russulales?
Family: Stereaceae?
Genus: Cotylidia
Species: Diaphana
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Silver Leaf Fungus - cap (shelf) to 3 cm
Order: Polyporales
Family: Meruliaceae
Genus: Chondrostereum (formerly Stereum)
Species: Purpureum
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Silver Leaf Fungus
Updated November 1 2015
Also spelled Silverleaf - fruits on old stumps and dead
wood but also affects living trees where it silvers the leaves
of affected branches
Chicken of the Woods - cap (shelf) to 30 cm - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - September 2007
Dryad's Saddle - cap to 30 cm - Lower Don Valley (Leaside) - July 2010
Turkey Tail - cap (shelf) to 8 cm - West Don Valley (E.T. Seton Park) - August 2012
Birch Polypore on Birch tree - cap (shelf) to 25 cm - West Don Valley (Wilket Creek Park) - September 2010
Hen of the Woods - approx. 25 cm - Lower Don Valley (Leaside) - September 2012
Tinder Polypore on Birch tree - cap (shelf) to 15 cm - West Don Valley (Sunnybrook Park) - August 2012
Little Nest Polypore - cap 1 to 2 cm - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - November 2012
Hexagonal-pored Polypore (underside) - approx. 5 cm - Marie Curtis Park - November 2011
Crust Fungus (Phlebia genus) - approx. 15 cm - High Park - March 2011
Ceramic Parchment Fungus - approx. 30 cm - polygonal tile approx. 1 cm - High Park - October 2012
Artist's Conk - cap (shelf) to 50 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Genus: Ganoderma
Species: Applanatum
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Also known as Artist's Bracket - pore surface bruises brown
allowing a picture to be drawn - fruits on living trees or
recently cut stumps and logs
More Artist's Conk
Updated January 22 2015
Family: Ganodermataceae
Trametes pubescens? - cap (shelf) to 8 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Trametes
Species: Pubescens?
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Trametes pubescens
Updated Jauary 22 2014
Trametes pubescens? - cap (shelf) to 8 cm - West Don Valley (Wilket Creek Park) - October 2014
Artist's Conk - cap (shelf) to 50 cm - West Don Valley (Wilket Creek Park) - October 2014
Crowded Parchment Fungus - cap approx. 1.5 cm
Order: Russulales
Family: Stereaceae
Genus: Stereum
Species: Complicatum (also Rameale)
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Similar to S.hirsutum - fruits on dead deciduous twigs and
stumps, especially Oak
Crowded Parchment Fungus - cap to 1.5 cm (often fused) - West Don Valley (Sunnybrook Park) - October 2013
Cotylidia diaphana - height to 4 cm - Duffins Creek - August 2009
Formerly Stereum diaphanum - fruits on ground in
deciduous woods
More Cotylidia diaphana Fungus
Updated August 30 2020
Irpex lacteus - approx. 10 cm
Order: Polyporales
Family: Steccherinaceae
Genus: Irpex
Species: Lacteus
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Irpex lacteus Fungus
Updated March 17 2019
Fruits on dead hardwood trees
Irpex lacteus - approx. 10 cm - West Don Valley (E.T. Seton Park) - January 2012
Blue Cheese Polypore - cap to 8 cm
Order: Polyporales
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Postia (also Cyanosporus)
Species: Caesia
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Fruits on decaying wood - formerly known as Polyporus
caesius
Blue Cheese Polypore - cap to 8 cm - Thickson Woods (Whitby) - October 2018
Ochre Spreading Tooth - approx. 15 cm
Order: Polyporales
Family: Phanerochaetaceae
Genus: Steccherinum
Species: Ochraceum
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Ochre Spreading Tooth
Updated March 21 2019
Fruits on dead hardwood twigs and branches
Ochre Spreading Tooth - approx. 15 cm - Thickson Woods (Whitby) - October 2018
Thin-maze Flat Polypore - cap to 15 cm
Order: Polyporales
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Daedaleopsis
Species: Confragosa
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Fruits on hardwood branches
More Thin-maze Flat Polypore
Updated October 6 2020
Thin-maze Flat Polypore - cap to 15 cm - Thickson Woods (Whitby) - October 2018
Violet-toothed Polypore - cap (shelf) to 8 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Trichaptum
Species: Biforme
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Violet-toothed Polypore
Updated March 29 2019
Violet-toothed Polypore - cap (shelf) to 8 cm - Thickson Woods (Whitby) - September 2018
Blackfoot Polypore - cap to 8 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Polyporus
Species: Varius
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Blackfoot Polypore
Updated March 29 2019
Blackfoot Polypore - approx. 3 cm - stalk approx. 1 cm - Thickson Woods (Whitby) - September 2018
Fruits on dead hardwood twigs and branches - also known
as Elegant Polypore
Genus: Cerioporus (also Polyporus)
Winter Polypore - cap to 8 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Lentinus (also Polyporus)
Species: Brumalis
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
More Winter Polypore
Updated March 22 2019
Fruits on dead hardwood
Winter Polypore - approx. 4 cm - stalk to 6 cm - Thickson Woods (Whitby) - October 2018
Red-banded Polypore - cap (shelf) to 40 cm
Order: Polyporales (formerly Aphyllophorales)
Family: Fomitopsidaceae
Genus: Fomitopsis
Species: Pinicola
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Similar to Lacquered Polypore (see above) - fruits on dead
trees
Red-banded Polypore - cap (shelf) to 40 cm - York Regional Forest (Robinson Tract) - September 2020