Inonotus dryadeus is one outstanding mushroom growing in a cream coloured, up to 40 cm diameter bracket on the trunk base of old oaks. When young, the margin of the mushroom springs beautiful as pearls droplets of rusty coloured liquid. It is spongy, not as tough as tinder fungus. The side above is soft and velvety, but it flakes when getting older. There are tiny, dense pores below, in a thick, white layer that darkens with age.
Dryadeus Inonotus attacks big living oaks. Usually, it starts from a wound in the trunk. Inonotus dryadeus is a powerful pathogen fungus. It growths fast from oak hard wood. It can easily knock down big oaks.
The photos were taken from one green oak trunk in Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac.
[photos Jordi Badia]