Oyster 2

Shelf Fungus

Shelf fungi grow on trees or fallen logs in damp woodlands.

 

The shelf fungi is a shelf like fruiting structure on trees.

Every season a new layer of spore tissue is added on top of the old, and over time these layers deposit over one another into a large bracket or shelf.

Shelf fungi produce shelf shaped fruiting bodies called conks.  These lie in a close group of horizontal rows.  Conks range from only a single row of caps, to dozens of rows of caps.

A common conk in this area is the Artist’s Conk.  It is fun to scratch a design on the underside. It is like a natural canvas.

Shelf 2
Shelf

Photo credit: Molly hicks

Photo 1. Oyster mushroom

Photo 2. Artist’s conk

Photo 3. Artist’s conk

https://www.britannica.com/science/shelf-fungus