Fungus · GBIF taxon 2540787
Black-staining Polypore
Meripilus sumstineiAlso known as Giant Polypore, Eastern Giant Polypore
Massive, overlapping rosettes emerge from the root collars and buried root systems of mature hardwood trees, particularly oaks. The broad, fan-shaped fronds begin cream to pale tan and possess an unmistakable chemical reaction, bruising dark brown to jet black within minutes of being touched or damaged. As a white-rot pathogen and saprobe, the mycelium gradually degrades lignin and cellulose in wood, recycling vital nutrients back into forest soil over decades.
Bracket FungusWood-DecayingForest Floor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Decaying Hardwood
- Oak Root Tissue
- Cellulose and Lignin
Predators
- Pleasing Fungus Beetles
- Fungus Gnats
- Terrestrial Slugs
ThreatsDeforestation and clear-cutting of mature hardwood host trees
HabitatsDeciduous forests, mixed woodlands, and mature urban parklands
Life spanFruiting body lasts 2–4 weeks; subterranean mycelium persists for decades
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPolyporales
- FamilyMeripilaceae
- GenusMeripilus
- SpeciesMeripilus sumstinei
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Bruise Test: Scratch the lower pore surface gently and watch for a slow transition to dark black over 15 minutes.
- Tree Health: Note observations near living trees, as large clusters often indicate internal root decay.
- Spore Observation: Place a piece of dark paper beneath a fresh frond to collect a powdery white spore deposit.
Look-Alike Lukas from London, England / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Look-Alike (c) Mark Richman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Richman · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Alicia Ballard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Michael Gäbler / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
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