Young Red Banded Polypore
Fomitopsis pinicola
31.7047, -110.878
Field Notes
Description:
This species of bracket fungus is fairly young compared to an adult; in the juvenile state, it shows these orange and yellowish colors with a white margin (border), and upon maturity, a dark-red to brown center with a orange margin. The aged polypore will grow to be up to 45 centimeters wide.
Habitat:
The Red Banded Polypore appears in various conifer forests of North America, and seems to be nonexistant in the Southeast. They prey off of either fallen/dead trees or can sometimes be found on old living ones (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7134918).
Notes:
F. pinicola is perennial; a new layer of growth is formed every year over the existing one, resulting in a very dark center to a bright and fresh margin (http://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wood/poroid%20fungi/species%20pag…). Additionally, despite the name, the margin is not always red. It is otherwise known by my lady and I as "pancake mushrooms." :)
Comments (10)