Beefsteak Fungus Fistulina hepatica (Schaeffer) Withering    Synonyms: Beefsteak Polypore, Ox Tongue.
Kingdom Fungi   >   Phylum Basidiomycota   >   Class Agaricomycetes   >   Order Agaricales   >   Family Fistulinaceae   >   Genus Fistulina   

Status:

Found solitary or in groups (often fused) on living or dead hardwood (especially oak) trees, stumps, and logs.

Description:

Fruiting body: Up to 10", dark red or reddish-orange to purplish brown when mature, yellow-orange when young; smooth, velvety; gelatinous, often sticky/slimy; oval to circular; margin round, sharp, wavy; flesh dingy white to reddish zoned with darker and paler areas, darkens on exposure; oozes pink/red droplets when fresh. Pores: White to pinkish-yellow, stain reddish-brown in age (J. Solem, pers. comm.).

There are 82 records in the project database.

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A Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (8/16/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (8/23/2019). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (9/30/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (9/30/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (9/30/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (8/5/2013). Identified by Bob and Jo Solem. Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (9/30/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2014). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus (young fruiting body) in Howard Co., Maryland (7/10/2009). Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)

Beefsteak Fungus (pores of young fruiting body) in Howard Co., Maryland (7/10/2009). Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)

Spores of Beefsteak Fungus in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2014). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Spores collected from a Beefsteak Fungus specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2014). Oval/teardrop-shaped, smooth, hyaline; measured 4.0-4.1 X 2.9-3.2 microns. Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)


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