The downed oak habitat

In February 2022 an ice storm uprooted a huge oak west of the barns. It fell into a stand of younger trees growing in what eighty years before had been a cattle pasture. The photo below shows it in September 2023. The second photo of bark, moss, polypore and geranium is a microcosm of the whole little system. The third photo shows off the fungus most prevalent and most conspicuous in this little system as of September 2023. This is Sterum complicatum, along with a companion also heavily represented, Trichaptum biforme. Trametes betulina may be third-easiest to spot; it seems to be everywhere.
That autumn, while cleaning up some of the debris, I saw many fungi on the trunk and branches that caught my beginner's eye. I made close to seventy observations on i Nat in October-November and added three in September 2023. I got wonderful help from members of the i Nat community, notably Sarah Duhon, Misha Zitser and John Plischke and from NY Myco Society virtual ID sessions.
Among the seventy observations on this tiny ecosystem, twenty species of fungus and one of lichen have at least one Research Grade observation. A few species have several. Another seven observations of fungi are posted at the Genus level. These include some crust fungi, which that I've noticed are very hard to identify below Genus level from macro photos alone. One lichen is posted at species level that is not confirmed.
The twenty-nine observations of fungi (mostly) or lichen that are at Genus level or lower are listed below. A fungus with more than one RG observation is listed only once.
This was a good learning lab for me as a novice identifier privileged to interact with others who know much more. It's also the start of a chance to follow future outgrowths.

Common name Scientific name RG? url

Wood Ear fungi Auricularia

False turkey tail Sept 2023 Stereum lobatum y www.inaturalist.org/observations/184769930
Hypoxylon canker Biscogniauxia atropunctata y www.inaturalist.org/observations/141485038
Poor man's licorice Bulgaria inquinans y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140437141
a pink crust fungus Corticium

Oysterlings Sept 2023 Crepidotus

Exidia

Oak curtain crust Hymenochaete rubiginosa y www.inaturalist.org/observations/184767003
Brown-toothed crust fungus Hydnoporia olivacea y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140870688
Milkwhite toothed polypore Irpex lacteus y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140190489
a toothed crust fungus Mycoacacia

Nectria

Luminescent panellus Panellus stypticus y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140108959
Rosy crust Peniophora incarnata y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140008246
Whitewash lichen Phlyctis argena

Phlebia

Fall oyster Sept 2023 Pleurotus ostreatus y www.inaturalist.org/observations/184399540
Porodisculus pendulus y www.inaturalist.org/observations/141097264
Rough speckled shield lichen Punctelia rudecta y www.inaturalist.org/observations/145702857
Asian beauty Radulomyces copelandii y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140007174
Splitgill mushroom Schizophyllum commune y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140109625
Ochre spread tooth Steccherinum ochraceum y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140577439
Crowded parchment Stereum Complicatum y www.inaturalist.org/observations/144107364
Gilled polypore Trametes betulina y www.inaturalist.org/observations/141531998
Hairy bracket Trametes hirsuta y www.inaturalist.org/observations/141487060
Ochre bracket Trametes ochracea y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140871611
Turkey tail Sept 2023 Trametes versicolor y www.inaturalist.org/observations/184400975
Violet-toothed polypore Trichaptum biforme y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140009505
Trichoderma viride

Split porecrust Xylodon paradoxus y www.inaturalist.org/observations/140914557

Posted on September 23, 2023 06:41 PM by stephenshafer stephenshafer

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Oaks (Genus Quercus)

Observer

stephenshafer

Date

September 22, 2023 09:54 AM EDT

Description

The big oak that fell in a storm February 2022

Photos / Sounds

What

Violet-toothed Polypore (Trichaptum biforme)

Observer

stephenshafer

Date

September 22, 2023 09:55 AM EDT

Description

Violet-lipped polypore and wild geranium in a fallen oak
The geranium may be Herb Robert

Photos / Sounds

What

Crowded Parchment (Stereum complicatum)

Observer

stephenshafer

Date

September 24, 2023 05:00 PM EDT

Description

Stereum complicatum and Trichaptum biforme on the downed oak. In September 2023, nineteen months after the tree went down, the most prevalent fungi I note are S. complicatum, T. biforme and T betulina. S complicatum occupies the most square feet and blazes with color on this rainy day.

Comments

Just wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

Posted by peakaytea 7 months ago

Thank you for your encouragement!

Posted by stephenshafer 7 months ago

Add a Comment

Sign In or Sign Up to add comments

Gracias al apoyo de:

¿Quiere apoyarnos? Pregúntenos cómo escribiendo a snib.guatemala@gmail.com