25 August 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Beefsteak Fungus, Ox-Tongue Fungus Fruiting Body Tongue shaped, laterally attached to the substrate, upper surface sticky or damp, blood red, darkening with age, under surface 2-3 pores per mm, whitish, red brown with age, to about 25 cm across Flesh Firm, succulent, marbled, red Smell Indistinct Taste Acidic Season Autumn Distribution Common Habitat On living and dead deciduous trees, favouring oak, but also sweet chestnut and beech Spore Print Pale yellow Microscopic Features Spores ovoid, smooth (5-6) x (3.5-4.5) µm2 Edibility Edible, excellent Notes Could be confused with young specimens of Inonotus hispidus which favours Ash 
24 September 2016 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |