Phellinus pomaceus

(Pers.) Maire

Mature brackets on the underside of a blackthorn stem in Wickford, Essex.
Mature brackets clad along a dysfunctional stem of black plum in Billericay, Essex
Mature resupinate fruiting bodies on the underside of a dead greengage stub in Wickford, Essex
Partially parasitised resupinate fruiting bodies on blackthorn in Basildon, Essex
Young fruiting bodies developing from a mycelial web on blackthorn in Basildon, Essex

Mature brackets on the underside of a blackthorn stem in Wickford, Essex.
Mature brackets clad along a dysfunctional stem of black plum in Billericay, Essex
Mature resupinate fruiting bodies on the underside of a dead greengage stub in Wickford, Essex
Partially parasitised resupinate fruiting bodies on blackthorn in Basildon, Essex
Young fruiting bodies developing from a mycelial web on blackthorn in Basildon, Essex
Archetypal cushion-like (resupinated) fruit bodies on blackthorn in Pitsea, UK.
Fruit bodies with a more bracket form on plum in Laindon, UK.
A tier of fruit bodies on blackthorn in Bedford, UK.
Mature fruit bodies on blackthorn in Bedford, UK.
Senescent fruit bodies on a dead fruit tree in Southend, UK.

Common name

Cushion bracket

Often found on

Plums.

Sometimes found on

Cherries.

Location

Found fruiting along the main stem(s) and scaffold limbs and branches – includes on old pruning stubs and torn branch / limb stubs.

Description

Perennial. Tough and woody. Resupinate on the underside of the stem / branch and forming brackets when elsewhere. Young fruit bodies develop from a mycelial web (photo e), begin orange and mature to become purple-brown on the upper surface – sometimes with green banding. New growth rings mature fruiting bodies with a gold-orange. Pore layer off-white. Can turn a mouldy blue when parasitised

Confused with

Ganoderma australe (similar when both are bracket-shaped); Phellinus igniarius (found on willow).

Significance

Indicative of dysfunction. Localised often to stubs and the columns of wood beneath these cuts / tears. When more abundant the tree is usually in systemic decline and failure can occur. Can operate pathogenically as well as saprobically. Attributed usually with a selective white rot of the wood of the host tree though decay may begin as a soft rot.