Teeth Fungi

Members of this family do not have gills or a spongy  tube layer, but they carry their spores on 'Teeth or Spines'. Usually both a cap and a stem are present, but in one case there is neither. Others are shelf like, i.e. a cap is present but without a stem.

Found in Manawatu Gorge Track on April 8th, 2001.

This fungus is branched to form a coral like formation. It differs from the coral fungi in that it hangs off the host rather than growing upward from the ground or or wood.

White in colour, the spores are formed on the outer surface of it's many branches. Can grow up to several pounds in weight, but this specimen was small measuring about 8cm high by about 4cm across and 3-4cm wide from the host outwards.

Edibility: Edible and  delicious. 

Found in Victoria Esplanade in Palmerston North. Growing from a felled tree. End of July, 2000.

Cap: Shelf like in shape, broadly attached to wood. Upper surface smooth to very slightly velvety. Orange brown in colour with bands of darker or lighter shades, the margin being the palest. The margin of the cap is usually quite wavy as you can see in the pictures

Spines: A dull and pale yellow colour. Less than 1cm deep, closely packed together, (crowded).