Fauna
Fungus

Shaggy Bracket

Inonotus hispidus

Also known as Shaggy Polypore, Velvety Polypore

Shaggy Bracket sprouts directly from the trunks of broadleaf trees as a dense, velvety bracket that bleeds amber droplets from its pores when young. Over late summer and autumn, the soft upper surface darkens from rich rust to a brittle, charcoal-black mass that crumbles during winter. This fungus causes a white rot that structurally weakens host trees like ash, apple, and oak, often leading to branch drop.

FungusTree ParasiteBracket Fungus
Shaggy Bracket reference1 / 7
(c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAsh Trees, Apple Trees, Oak Trees
Predators
  • Fungus Beetles
  • Fungus Gnats
ThreatsRemoval of host trees and orchard sanitation practices
HabitatsHardwood forests, orchards, parks, and roadside trees
Life spanAnnual fruiting body; mycelium lives for years inside host
Classification
  1. OrderHymenochaetales
  2. FamilyHymenochaetaceae
  3. GenusInonotus
  4. SpeciesInonotus hispidus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many wild fungi have dangerous look-alikes; never eat wild mushrooms based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Observing Exudate: Look for golden droplets weeping from young caps in midsummer.
  • Host Identification: Check living ash, apple, or oak trees where major branches join the trunk.
  • Seasonal Timing: Search from summer to early autumn before caps turn black and decay.
Related species
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