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Scarlet Bracket

Pycnoporus coccineus

Photo by Neil Ross
Published on Project Noah
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-27.5084, 153.018

Field Notes

Description:

Orange polypore fungi with very small stem growing on rotting Lilly Pilly stump. Filtered sunlight, moist shaded area. Diameter of larger specimen no more than 4cm. Appears to start off as a small cone and then the cap spreads as it grows. Same texture and colour as Scarlet Bracket - Pycnoporus coccineus, although this spotting is clearly not a bracket species... or is it? Another possibility is Pycnoporus sanguineus, but this too is a bracket species that occurs mainly in northern Australia. The older dying specimen (photo #6) indicates that perhaps its size and shape does not develop any further than what is currently seen. Any suggestions?

Habitat:

Found in my neighbour's backyard. Lots of leaf litter and garden mulch. It is currently a mild winter in SE Queensland, particularly in Brisbane.

Notes:

Scarlet Bracket for comparison - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/30468084

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
Mark Ridgway
I agree it's a weird shape, colour and location for P coccineus (or cinnabarinus). Don't feel bad about IDing fungi Neil.... when you look at the numbers and realise that Aus now has a mix of it's own (95% undescribed) and introduced species... that just makes it a challenge 8-) You've recorded your find - that's what counts. Maybe the Syzigium (or acmena) substrate might help key to it.
Neil Ross
Thanks, CorduneanuVlad. From what I've read about these (and it seems to go on and on), Pycnoporus cinnabarinus is in the northern hemisphere, Pycnoporus coccineus is in the southern. Very similar species. Every fungi I find makes me groan, and to correctly ID them seems to be such a chore and never as easy as one would hope. I'll check it out again though. Thanks :-)
CorduneanuVlad
Have a look at Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, it looks like it.
Neil Ross
These fungi are sent to drive me crazy!!! If I only had a dollar for every fungi image I've looked at.....
Mark Ridgway
8-/ !!? You sure come up with some good ones...

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Mushroom Mapping
Mission
Wilds of South-East Queensland
Mission
Wildlife of Brisbane
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJuly 24, 2013

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