Walk Softly – Bracket Fungus

by Geoffrey Carpentier

Fungi is not a word which leaps to mind when we think I want to know more about that one! Most people know little about fungi and are repelled because they think they are dirty and smelly. Well, some are, but most aren't. Certainly, without mycorrhizal fungi and their relationship to trees, virtually all our forests would collapse. But that's a story for another time.

Let's talk about bracket fungi, also known as shelf fungi. You've all seen them. They look like large, flat, woody platforms growing out of the side of a tree trunk or fallen log. But what exactly are they, and are they useful or harmful? If I were a mycologist, someone who studies fungi, I'd tell you a bracket fungus is the exposed fruiting body of a specific family of fungi called polypores, which have pores on their undersides. Basidia, i.e. spore producing cells, line the walls of these pores, and it is these basidia which produce the spores which are released as part of the reproductive cycle.

Unlike mushrooms, they don't have typical stems or gills, which, in the case of the mushroom, are the source of the spores. Got it? These fungi are woody or leathery, anchored to the tree and connected to thread-like mycelia, which extend into the tree's wood. The tree's wood becomes its primary source of nutrients as it feeds on it, breaking it down at the same time. So, this can be a good or bad thing. If they're attached to a healthy tree, they can cause serious damage, but if on a dead or dying one, they help break down the wood, releasing the nutrients to feed other plants.

These shelves can last many years, adding annual layers, much like a tree would when it produces its growth rings annually. It is difficult to age them as they may produce one or more 'rings' each year. These fungi represent a complex ecosystem where many different types of organisms thrive. Many invertebrates have become specialized to live in bracket fungi and at least one species of beetle is so slim it lives in these pores and eats the fungal spores!

Many of these bracket fungi have interesting names, such as Turkey Tail (guess what that one looks like?), Sheep's Head or Chicken-of-the-woods. The Sheep's head, also known as Hen-of-the-woods or maitake mushroom, favours the trunks of oak trees and appears as a large cluster of flower-like caps. They can be massive, weighing as much as 45 kg, growing in clusters of flattened brown caps with white edges. Their name is reportedly derived from the fact the cluster of mushrooms resembles the ruffled feathers of a sitting hen. Hmmm, not sure about that one – looks more like a large carnation to me! They are edible and should be harvested in the fall before the white spores are dropped; these spores will be visible on the ground below the fungi. Clean them and then cook them as you would any other delicate mushroom. Chicken-of-the-woods is a brilliantly coloured orange or yellow fungi and is edible, but some folks experience stomach issues when consuming it. Again, this is a soft-tissued mushroom and, when harvested at the correct time, can be cooked like other wild mushrooms. Always be careful when harvesting wild plants, and make sure you know what they are and the risks when consuming them.  

Some bracket fungi are much tougher and woodier, so they must be treated differently. Generally, they are ground into powder and used to make herbal teas. Some of the inedible ones can be used to make interestingly coloured dyes. One species, Dyer's Polypore, is used to make dyes, yielding colours such as yellow-ochre, orange, reddish-brown and black. The Turkey Tail, mentioned above, is inedible, but can be used to make jewellery and can yield some dyes for craft work. Indigenous peoples harvested them for centuries for food and medicinal uses, but they also used them as a receptacle to transport hot coals from campsite to campsite to start a new fire upon arrival. This is a very fascinating organism to be sure!

Geoff Carpentier is a published author, expedition guide and environmental consultant. Visit Geoff on-line on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram