Beefsteak Fungus

Fistulina hepatica

On trunks of old oaks, rarely at their base. Summer, autumn.

An annual fungus. Young fruiting bodies are knob-shaped, later spatula- or tongue-shaped, attached to the tree by the margin or by a short lateral end - a stem. Young fruiting bodies are fleshy, elastic, juicy, later fibrous; they grow up to 20 cm across and 6 cm thick and much larger; the surface is orange-red, the colour of blood, meat, old brown mushrooms, liver. Tubes up to 1.5 cm long, yellowish, darkening when pressed. Flesh fleshy, juicy, saturated with reddish juice, sour in taste. Characteristic features: a mushroom of soft, juicy consistency. Grows in parks and forests on oaks, rarely on other deciduous trees. Causes active brown rot of wood. Edible. Not rare. Protected.