Alabama Mushroom Society |
This page will cover some of the basics for Bondarzewia berkeleyi, in the family Bondarzewiaceae and the order Russulales.
Photo by Tim Pfitzer
Bondarzewia berkeleyi- Berkeley's polypore
This polypore may take on ocher or light brown tones that form distinct radial zones. The pileus will be velvety and dry. With age the fruitbody will become tough and leathery.
Grows On Wood
The fruitbody of B. berkeleyi erupts from wood and takes a variety of shapes that are described as fans or shelves. They can get pretty sizable. Photo by Deacon Mcdaniel | Pores
Some of the distinguishing features of B. berkeleyi are the large pores on the underside that run down the stem, unbruising flesh, and white-pale flesh. Photo by Deacon Mcdaniel |
Lookalikes
Laetiporus spp
Laetiporus species can produce similar concentric zones that, with weathering, can look like B. berkeleyi. L. persicinus has also been confused for B. berkeleyi due to it's pale pileus. | Old Laetiporus
In age their pores can become large and similar to B. berkeleyi. |
Meripilus sumstinei
The black-staining polypore, as it's name implies, stains black upon damage. This reaction can take up to an hour and is more obvious on the hymenium (spore bearing surface). Like B. berkeleyi, the morphology of M. sumstinei can take many forms, anywhere between the small 'leafletes' of Grifola frondosa to the large fronds of B. berkeleyi. | Inonotus spp.The oak bracket (Inonotus quercus) and similar can take on similar morphologies as well. |
