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Blakeley, Baldwin County, Alabama, United States Fungus Type: Polypores (tough "bracket fungi")
Description: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/325878421 Google AI: While true Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) isn't found in Alabama (it prefers colder birch forests), you might see similar-looking, black, woody polypores like Phellinus/Fulvifomes species or older Inonotus hispidus (Shaggy Bracket) on oaks, but the best local Alabama polypore match for a dark, shelf-like conk could be Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina) or other tough, woody polypores like some Phellinus, though Chaga's unique cracked, charcoal-like surface with orange interior is key. Why it's confusing: Chaga's Appearance: Looks like a burnt, black mass or charcoal on birch trees, with a cracked, hard exterior and rusty-orange interior when cut. Alabama Finds: People often find other polypores that get dark and crusty with age, leading to misidentification. Potential Alabama Look-Alikes (and what to look for): Phellinus/Fulvifomes spp. (Fire Fungus/Cork Polypore): These are common bracket fungi in the South, often dark, woody, and growing on hardwoods like oak, but they usually have visible pores. *Inonotus hispidus (Shaggy Bracket): Grows on oaks, can turn black and crusty when old (like in S. Alabama finds), but generally softer when young and has a different texture than Chaga. *Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore): Grows on birch, can look dark/blackish, but is softer, spongy, and lighter brown underneath, not the hard, orange-ish interior of true Chaga. Key Takeaway for Alabama: If you see a dark conk on a hardwood in Alabama that looks like burnt wood, it's likely a native Phellinus, Inonotus hispidus, or another polypore, but not Inonotus obliquus (Chaga). Always check the host tree (Chaga is on birch) and the texture/color inside ==================================== Mushrooms of Mississippi Page 196 says IS Inonotus obliquus Clinker Polypore found at base of a living elm tree?
Comments: See Introduction Mycology P 580 - Family Hymenochaetaceae ("may be mistaken for members of Polyporaceae.") iNaturalist: Taxonomy Kingdom Fungi Fungi Including Lichens Phylum Basidiomycota Basidiomycete Fungi Subphylum Agaricomycotina Higher Basidiomycetes Class Agaricomycetes Mushrooms, Bracket Fungi, Puffballs, and Allies Order Hymenochaetales Family Hymenochaetaceae Genus Inonotus