Xanthoporia radiata

(Sowerby) Tura, Zmitr., Wasser, Raats & Nevo

Maturing brackets on a fallen alder stem in Norsey Wood, Essex
A maturing bracket that is gold-rimmed with reddish zoning on birch at Epping Forest, Essex
Abundant along a dead birch (adjacent to a single Ganoderma australe bracket) at Epping Forest, Essex
A young resupinate morphology on a mature alder along the Great Ouse, Bedfordshire
Numerous senescent brackets on a dead alder stem at Thorndon Country Park, Essex

Maturing brackets on a fallen alder stem in Norsey Wood, Essex
A maturing bracket that is gold-rimmed with reddish zoning on birch at Epping Forest, Essex
Abundant along a dead birch (adjacent to a single Ganoderma australe bracket) at Epping Forest, Essex
A young resupinate morphology on a mature alder along the Great Ouse, Bedfordshire
Numerous senescent brackets on a dead alder stem at Thorndon Country Park, Essex
Archetypal fruit bodies on alder in Bedford, UK.
Senescent abundant fruit bodies on fallen alder at Burnham Beeches, UK.
Senescent fruit bodies on alder in the New Forest, UK.
The silvery-white pore layer with slotted pores on birch in Billericay, UK.
Showing the slotted pores of mature brackets on birch in Billericay, UK.

Common name

Alder bracket

Often found on

Alder, birch.

Sometimes found on

Gorse.

Location

Growing on the main stem of the host tree and along larger branches – sometimes around wounds or on dead tree parts. Persists on fallen trees / tree parts. Abundant in alder carrs (riparian).

Description

Annual. Usually abundant. Brackets individually small- to medium-sized. Sometimes resupinate. Top surface rimmed white; else a golden orange-brown (photo a). A little hairy. Pore layer golden yellow-white and bruising orange-brown. Blackens-off in autumn. Generally remains attached to the host tree for many years in this state by gradually fragmenting / weathering.

Confused with

Daldinia concentrica (old and fragmented), Inonotus cuticularis (senescent), Inonotus hispidus (senescent).

Significance

No research has been done on its pathogenicity. Usually signifies local dysfunction or systemic physiological decline. May be latently present (endophytic), due to its ability to colonise vast areas on declining and dead trees. Potential to therefore be a weak parasite. Attributed to stem fracture on hosts, periodically – notably for exposed trees.