Fauna
Fungus

Berkeley's Polypore

Bondarzewia berkeleyi

Also known as Stump Blossoms

Berkeley's polypore forms massive, rosette-like clusters at the base of living hardwoods, particularly oaks, where it acts as a parasitic agent of butt rot. Individual rosettes can grow to immense proportions, featuring multiple fan-shaped caps that range in color from cream to yellowish-brown with faint concentric zones. As the fruiting body matures through late summer and autumn, it eventually decays, leaving behind a persistent structural trace at the tree's roots.

PolyporeShelf FungusParasitic
Berkeley's Polypore reference1 / 7
(c) Mark Richman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Richman · 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 & preyParasitic and saprobic (wood-decaying)
Predators
  • Fungus beetles
  • Fungus gnat larvae
  • Slugs
ThreatsDeforestation and intensive forest management
HabitatsHardwood forests, particularly near oak roots and stumps
Life spanFruiting bodies last several weeks; mycelium lives for years
Classification
  1. OrderRussulales
  2. FamilyBondarzewiaceae
  3. GenusBondarzewia
  4. SpeciesBondarzewia berkeleyi
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 edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Inspect the pore surface: Look for white to cream pores that do not bruise black when scratched.
  • Check host association: Observe whether it emerges from soil near oak roots or directly on stumps.
  • Leave specimens intact: Allow large fruiting bodies to mature and release spores into the forest.
Related species
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