Bitter bracket

Description:

The cap is an irregular bracket that grows up to 10 cm across and 1 to 3 cm thick. Sometimes it is roughly semicircular but more often shell shaped and very occasionally in the form of a lopsided spinning top. The upper surface is finely velvety, uneven, white, becoming light ochre with age. The margins are rounded in young specimens, more acute as fruitbodies age. The lower surface has tubes and pores. Watery droplets are exuded mainly from margin region and from the pores. The tubes are white and 2 to 6mm deep. The tiny pores are also white and spaced at 3 to 4 per mm.

Habitat:

Postia stiptica is found throughout most of mainland Europe and is most common in central and northern Europe. The Bitter bracket is also recorded in many parts of Asia, North America and Australia. Postia stiptica usually grows on felled trunks and large fallen branches of conifers, very occasionally on the timber of hardwood trees.

Notes:

Spotted in Nieuwe Rande Forest in rural area of Deventer, Holland.