Oak Bracket / Maze Polypore
Daedalea quercina
Type: polypore
Physical Characteristics
Thick, corky, fan-shaped or semicircular brackets. The upper surface is grayish to ochre-brown, often zoned and finely hairy when young. The underside features a distinctive labyrinth-like or maze-like pore surface (daedaleoid), which is creamy to brownish. It is tough and woody in texture.
Habitat & Growing Conditions
Typically grows on dead wood or stumps of deciduous trees, specifically favoring oak (Quercus species). It is often found in woodlands and parks.
Season & Fruiting Time
Perennial, though it produces new spores mainly in the summer and autumn. The fruiting bodies can persist for several years.
Similar Looking Species
Trametes betulina (Gilled Polypore) which has clearer gill-like structures rather than a maze; Daedaleopsis confragosa (Thin-walled Maze Polypore) which has thinner brackets and often turns reddish when bruised.
Ecological Role
Saprophytic fungus that causes brown rot in the heartwood of hardwood trees, breaking down cellulose and leaving behind lignin which contributes to soil health and forest structure.
Safety reminder
AI mushroom identification is a best-effort estimate and can be wrong. Never use it to decide whether a mushroom is safe to handle or eat — always confirm with a qualified mycologist before any consumption.
Identified on: 3/8/2026
Mode: Standard