Rusty-Gilled Polypore

this is my contribution to FungiFriday by ewkaw

usually i post highlights of the different fungi i find on single walks in search of mushrooms to eat and photograph. but this time i want to mix it up and highlight a single species of fungi that i found on different walks-
Gloeophyllum sepiarium rusty-gilled polypore or conifer mazegill

being a polypore one would probably expect this fungi to have pores but instead it has gills, or perhaps it has gills mixed with pores with a structure resembling a maze.
a-mazing. aren't fungi fun!

it grows on bare fallen trees or stumps, mostly conifers and plays an important role in the ecology of the forest by decomposing the cellulose that makes up the wood.

the shape varies a lot, sometimes long brackets, sometimes
semicircles or kidney-shaped or whatever

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when young it is bright orange

but soon the center darkens to orange-brown

and eventually almost black. it can grow alone or in groups
and can be spread across an entire fallen tree

or is often found on the tops of cut stumps

but it also grows on cut lumber so it may appear on a fence or porch etc, even if the wood is treated. therefore it is not particularly well-liked among homeowners with wooden houses

nor is it edible. however it "is being studied for potential medicinal uses. Research has indicated that it may possess antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Moreover, it has demonstrated effectiveness as a bioremediation tool, showing the ability to remove significant amounts of chromium from the soil"
Source: https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/rusty-gilled-polypore.html

so give it up for these fascinating fungi friends