Polypore Bracket Mushrooms

     The polypore mushrooms that grow on woody substrate such as a dead trees or branches are known as bracket fungi for the way their fruit bodies grow outward from their medium. Of course bracket mushrooms are not always polypore (meaning their gills are in the shape of pores - many pores). Some have gilled undersides; either true gills or Schizophyllum (gills appearing longitudinally split). 

     Polypores, or Polyporaceae, bracket fungi are common in Florida. Out of all the bracket mushrooms I've found in the woods 9 out of 10 have been polypores; but of course that is only during my short lifetime on Earth thus far. 

     From my small collection of Polyporaceae bracket fungi fruits, below is one of my favorite finds.


                                 

     You could imagine how this striking specimen with its bright orange hue immediately caught my attention amongst the wild growth I found it in. The fallen branch approximately 4 ft. in length in its natural habitat populated with this fungi must have had at least a dozen bright fruiting bodies. Some of which looked "over ripe" and soon to begin decaying off. This sample specimen has been sitting in my collection for about 6 months now, preserved in the state I found it in. I'm wondering if the attached mycelia is still alive and possibly dormant?

     Take a look at the pores of this mushroom, so tiny and fine that they seem to not be there at all.