Shelf-like to hoof-like & usually on wood


The fruitbodies of the fungi in this group grow from wood, but sometimes that wood may be buried. They range from fairly thin, shelf-like or bracket-like growths (with horizontal extent much greater than vertical thickness) to those that are very chunky (with vertical thickness equal to, or even greater than, horizontal extent).

 

In some species with shelf-like fruitbodies the shelves are wavy, rather than absolutely flat.

 

As well as the wholly shelf-like fruitbodies there are those that are flat sheet+shelf. These start as a flat growth on a downward facing surface (e.g. the lower side of a leaning trunk or of a fallen branch lying on the ground). After a while the upper edge of this sheet-like growth turns out from the wood to form a horizontal shelf. Technically such a composite growth form is described as effused-reflexed (effused: the sheet-like bit; reflexed: the shelf). In some species the shelf constitutes a significant proportion of the fruitbody and such species are included here.

 

There are other species that either remain flat on wood or where the margins of the mature fruitbody occasionally turn away from the wood, but very little and only to form a slight horizontal lip, with almost all of the mature fruitbody still the flat area. Look for those in Other fungi on wood.

 

Sometimes, understandably, you will be unsure whether you have a ‘shelf ‘or a ‘lip’. After all, a lip may be only an immature stage in the formation of a shelf. In a simple guide such as this, it is impossible to give a definitive answer for each case. The only possible advice is to look in each category and see if other features suggests a species or genus for your sighting.

 

Warnings

Some species which normally produce shelf-like to hoof-like fruitbodies can show considerable plasticity in fruitbody form, depending on where the fruitbody develops. For example, Pycnoporus coccineus (see the pored/maze-like sub-group) almost always produces shelf-like fruitbodies but you may find no more than a thick crust (seen on the underside of a ceiling) or an inverted, shallow cone (seen on the top side of a fallen branch). In such cases you would, quite understandably, look for a match to your sighting in some other category.

Announcements

Yesterday

Hi All,Mobile app update is nearing release which brings:Improved taxonomy search accuracyAbility to re-order images using drag and dropMinor bug fixesWeb platform improvements that are nearing releas...


Continue reading

Platform update

Improvements to data import tool (coming soon)

NatureMapr welcomes Edgar McNamara

Platform wide attribute changes

Discussion

Heinol wrote:
11 hrs ago
Still immature

Trametes coccinea
JTran wrote:
26 May 2025
There is enough underside visible in photo 2 to see white pores, though it is not super clear. Trametes versicolor?

Trametes versicolor
HelenCross wrote:
26 May 2025
Sorry Christina, I'll see if I can get back there

Trametes versicolor
Csteele4 wrote:
26 May 2025
Hey Helen, the underside of these (and all fungi) are particularly important for ID. Any chance of a photo?

Trametes versicolor
Aussiegall wrote:
24 May 2025
@Heinol I have added a photo of the underside

Trametes versicolor

Recent activity

Trametes sp.

Cerrena zonata

819,505 sightings of 22,403 species from 14,106 members
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.