Horsehoof Fungus (post bushfire)

Description:

A bracket polypore and club fungi species, "horsehoof fungus" is very appropriately named. It belongs to the family Hymenochaetaceae, and occurs naturally in Queensland. This one was burnt during recent bushfires. It's a firm and woody species, and attached to the tree by a broad lateral base. Frequently creviced when old, at first cinnamon brown, darkening to black, margin entire, reddish brown. Pore surface plane, often creviced, with a sterile border 2–5 mm wide, reddish brown to dark brown. It is a very unique-looking and handsome species, and I never tire of seeing it. NB: This specimen has lost it's original colour and is now largely dark grey and creamy white. Also see notes.

Habitat:

Spotted along the Peak Trail in Girraween National Park. This specimen was growing on a eucalyptus tree (sp. unk). Area largely dry sclerophyll forest, and foliage is much greener and lush since the drought has broken. Girraween was also subject to massive bushfires in Feb, 2019, but the area is slowly recovering. Here's some park info - http://www.rymich.com/girraween/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girraween_...

Notes:

A beautiful, young specimen I spotted a few years back. Note the rich cinnamon colour and distinctive horsehoof shape.... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/33... My current spotting is larger, but it would have had the same colour. I don't even know if this specimen is still alive as the fire burnt its way right up into the canopy of the tree. You can see were the fire damaged the pore surface, and I am surprised that the fungus didn't just burn off completely. It is a tinder fungus after all.