Bjerkandera fumosa is a species of bracket fungus that grows on decaying wood, particularly oak and other hardwoods. In East and Central Texas, it typically fruits from spring to fall, producing smoky-brown to grayish-brown caps with white or light brown pores underneath. The fungus is commonly found in wooded areas, including forests and urban parks, where it plays a role in decomposing organic matter. It has been documented in various regions of East and Central Texas, including the Piney Woods, Post Oak Savannah, and Blackland Prairie ecoregions.
Big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Underside of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Caps of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Pore surface of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Colors of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Pore surface of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Blackened cap margins of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
White pores and black cap margins of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Close-up of pores of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Cross section of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) on a dried and recently cut green ash tree in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022 George Bush Drive East, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77840, United States
Spores of big smoky bracket mushrooms (Bjerkandera fumosa) collected in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 24, 2022
AI-generated summary of observations
In East and Central Texas, specifically at Wolf Pen Creek Park in College Station, observations of Bjerkandera fumosa were made on a dried and recently cut green ash tree. The fungus was found to have big smoky bracket mushrooms with distinctive features such as white pores and blackened cap margins. The pore surface was observed to be white, and the caps displayed various colors. Close-up examinations revealed detailed structures of the pores, and cross-sections showed the internal composition of the mushrooms. Spores were also collected for further study. The observations highlighted the unique characteristics of Bjerkandera fumosa in this specific region, providing valuable insights into its growth and development on green ash trees.