Fistulina hepatica

(Schaeff.) With.

A mature bracket with parasitic blue mould on the upper surface on oak in Wickford, Essex.
The anamorphic state of this fungus with a very aberrant form on oak in Basildon, Essex
The anamorphic state (left) adjacent to the teleomorphic state (right) on oak in Basildon, Essex
Maturing fruiting bodies on the inside of an oak stem in Rochford, Essex
A young developing fruiting body on a root of a veteran oak in Richmond Park, London

A mature bracket with parasitic blue mould on the upper surface on oak in Wickford, Essex.
The anamorphic state of this fungus with a very aberrant form on oak in Basildon, Essex
The anamorphic state (left) adjacent to the teleomorphic state (right) on oak in Basildon, Essex
Maturing fruiting bodies on the inside of an oak stem in Rochford, Essex
A young developing fruiting body on a root of a veteran oak in Richmond Park, London
An anamorphic young guttating fruit body on sweet chestnut at Norsey Wood, UK.
Mature bracket on exposed heartwood on buttress of oak in Richmond Park, UK.
A young developing fruit body at the base of oak in London, UK.
A parasitised fruit body clad with mould on oak in Laindon, UK.
Senescent fruit bodies clad with mould on oak in Wickford, UK.

Common name

Beefsteak fungus; Ox tongue

Often found on

Oak and sweet chestnut.

Sometimes found on

Other deciduous broadleaves, including beech, albeit very infrequently.

Location

Growing from bark-less areas of the tree from the buttress roots up into the crown.

Description

Annual . Soft and fleshy. Upper surface a strong pinkish-red that sometimes exudes red liquid. Pore surface off-white. Flesh pink and similar to to liver (hepatic) – quite stringy. Desiccates to a dark reddish-brown to black before generally disintegrating. Often parasitised by blue moulds. Anamorphic state (Confistulina hepatica) lacks a pore surface and can adopt aberrant forms (photo b,c).

Confused with

Buglossoporus quercinus (on oak – much rarer and restricted generally to veteran oaks).

Significance

Generally not considered to be pathogenic, with gradual decay restricted to the heartwood . Attributed to a brown rot with some soft rot qualities in early / novel stages. Anecdotal evidence suggests this fungus can cause burring on oaks when it breaks through to the sapwood . Long-standing decay can cause structural failure. Remains largely benign, as regards its impact upon the tree.