Giant polypore

Description:

This massive polypore grows as a rosette of fan-shaped caps at or near the base of hardwood trees and on stumps. The individual tan or light brown caps range from 10 to 30 cm across and 1 to 3 cm thick, while the complete fruitbody typically grows to between 50 and 80 cm and occasionally more than a metre across. The off-white tubes are 4 to 6 mm deep and terminate in tiny round white pores packed to a density of between 3 and 5 per mm. When bruised, the pores turn dark brown or black. These polypores are short lived and very quickly rot away.

Habitat:

This species occurs in most of Europe, while a very similar fungus, Meripilus sumstinei, is found in North America. Meripilus giganteus is parasitic at first and then saprobic when its host dies. It is found at the base of beech trees and on stumps of recently-felled trees. Although less frequently it can also be found on oaks, elms, poplars, limes and several other kinds of broadleaf trees. It very occasionally occurs on several types of pines, larches, firs and even eucalyptus.

Notes:

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