Aurantiporus fissilis

(Berk. & M.A. Curtis) H. Jahn ex Ryvarden

A mature fruiting body on a fallen ash at Hatfield Forest, Essex.
On an historic pruning wound on a mature Turner oak at Hampstead Heath, London
A closer view of the same bracket on Turner oak
A developing fruit body on a tear wound on pin oak at Hampstead Heath, London
Cross-section showing flesh and tube layer taken from wild service at Hampstead Heath, London

A mature fruiting body on a fallen ash at Hatfield Forest, Essex.
On an historic pruning wound on a mature Turner oak at Hampstead Heath, London
A closer view of the same bracket on Turner oak
A developing fruit body on a tear wound on pin oak at Hampstead Heath, London
Cross-section showing flesh and tube layer taken from wild service at Hampstead Heath, London
Distant image within the ripewood of a fallen ash at Hatfield Forest, UK.
Develping and guttating bracket on a fallen wild service at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Upper surface of developing bracket on a fallen wild service at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developing bracket on a fallen wild service at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developing bracket on a fallen wild service at Hampstead Heath, UK.

Common name

Greasy bracket.

Often found on

None.

Sometimes found on

Various deciduous broadleaved species.

Location

Found from the base of the tree up in to the crown. Usually located on sites of wounding / damage – principally, tear-outs and pruning wounds.

Description

Annual. Typically, off-white and somewhat slippery (greasy) to the touch when younger. Matures to sometimes form a golden-brown upper surface. Pore surface is white, and pores are generally quite circular. White spore. White flesh.

Confused with

Trametes gibbosa (hard and woody); Trametes suaveolens (smells of aniseed).

Significance

This fungus is normally isolated to already-damaged areas of the tree, though no research has been undertaken on the pathogenicity of this fungus. Presence at the base of the tree and along the main stem may warrant hollowness investigations , should a target exist. Little research has been undertaken on this fungus and understanding is borne near-exclusively from anecdotal observation.