Phellinus igniarius

(L.) Quél.

Mature fruiting bodies on a decaying willow stump in Kungalv, Sweden.
A mature bracket on an old storm wound in the upper crown of willow in Kungalv, Sweden
Several mature brackets indicate a column of dysfunction from an old stem removal in Kungalv, Sweden
The white spore released by growing bracket that has reiterated in Barnet, London
A small bracket with a large margin and blackish colouration in Mote Park, Maidstone

Mature fruiting bodies on a decaying willow stump in Kungalv, Sweden.
A mature bracket on an old storm wound in the upper crown of willow in Kungalv, Sweden
Several mature brackets indicate a column of dysfunction from an old stem removal in Kungalv, Sweden
The white spore released by growing bracket that has reiterated in Barnet, London
A small bracket with a large margin and blackish colouration in Mote Park, Maidstone
Mature brackets on willow in Kungalv, Sweden.
Mature brackets on willow in Kungalv, Sweden.
Bracket high up on a willow stem in London, UK.
Bracket high up on a willow stem beneath a tear-out in London, UK.
Developing anamorphic fruit bodies on a willow log in London, UK.

Common name

Willow bracket

Often found on

Willow.

Sometimes found on

Other deciduous broadleaves (notably poplar).

Location

Can be found across the entire structure of the tree, from the base of the stem up into the higher crown. Often restricted to dysfunctional areas – notably old pruning wounds or sites of storm damage and limb loss.

Description

Species complex. Perennial. Tough and woody. Grey on the upper surface when young and becoming a purplish black – sometimes greening slightly. Margin and underside a velvety grey-brown. Spore white. Flesh rustic brown. Variable in size and abundance – older fruiting bodies can become quite large.

Confused with

Fomes fomentarius (rarely on Salix); Ganoderma australe; Phellinus pomaceus (on Prunus);

Significance

Attributed with a selective white rot of the wood. Understood to be able to act parasitically. Extensive colonisations on willow or where fruiting is on the main stem or on a scaffold limb should therefore be treated with a degree of caution and could be quantified with decay detection tools, where necessary given the weak wood properties of willow and the ability for this fungus to form extensive horizontal decay columns. Localised examples – such as on aerial deadwood or upper crown storm damage – may prompt less concern, though a climbing inspection may be necessary to assess the area in question.