Hoof fungi.
This is a descriptive term for polypore fruiting bodies (conks) that resemble a horse’s hoof.
Hoof fungi are Agaricomycetes and occur in a number of genera in 2 orders:
- Order Polyporales > Families Ganodermataceae, Polyporaceae and Fomitopsidaceae and
- Order Hymenochaetales > Family Hymenochaetaceae (brown fleshed polypores).
Genera include Fomes, Fomitiporia, Fomitopsis, Fulvifomes, Ganoderma, Inonotus, Phellinus and Porodaedalea.
The hard woody brackets resemble a horse’s hoof.
They are usually solitary but a number may grow on one log.
They can live as parasites on living wood or cause decay in dead wood.
The brackets have broad concentric ridges from successive years of growth.
The hard, fibrous flesh is shades of brown.
The upper surface may be smooth, bumpy or very cracked.
It varies from light brown to grey, orange to dark red, brown or black.
The rounded edge may be white or orange.
The round pores on the under surface may be white, brown, pink, purplish or yellow.
The pore surface may bruise when damaged.
Laboratory studies are required in many cases for a final identification.
J.F.
