Community find

Hoof Fungus (Iceman Fungus)

Fomes fomentarius

Group

Polypore

Season

It is perennial, meaning it can be found year-round. New growth occurs primarily in the warmer months, but the fruiting body persists for many years, adding new layers of pores annually.

Habitat

This fungus is parasitic on weakened or dead hardwood trees, particularly birch, beech, and maple. It causes white rot in the heartwood of affected trees.

Key characteristics

The Hoof Fungus has a hard, hoof-shaped, bracket-like fruiting body. The cap is typically convex to ungulate (hoof-shaped), zoned with concentric ridges, and can be grey, brown, or blackish, often with a paler margin when actively growing. The top surface is tough and woody. The underside (pore surface) is pale cream to brownish, becoming darker with age, and consists of many small pores. When cut, the flesh is tough, leathery, and brown.

Look-alikes

Similar looking species include other bracket fungi, such as Artist's Conk (Ganoderma applanatum), which typically has a flat top surface and bruises dark brown when scratched, and Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), which is usually lighter in color, thinner, and typically found only on birch.

Ecological role

Fomes fomentarius is a saprophytic and parasitic fungus, primarily causing white rot in the heartwood of dead or weakened hardwood trees. It plays a significant role in the decomposition of wood, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. As a parasite, it contributes to the natural thinning of forests by breaking down older or less vigorous trees.