Phaeolus schweinitzii

Scientific name:   Phaeolus schweinitzii (Fr.) Pat.
Derivation of name:   Phaeolus means "dark" or "obscure";
schweinitzii means it was named for L.D. von Schweinitz,
American mycologist (1780-1834).
Synonymy:   Polyporus schweinitzii Fr.
Common names:   Dye polypore.
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Polyporales
Family:   Polyporaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Parasitic and saprobic;
solitary or in overlapping clusters or rosettes on buried roots
and at the base of living conifers, sometimes on dead stumps;
rarely reported on deciduous trees; June through November. 
Dimensions:  Individual caps 4-25 cm wide; clusters up to 60
cm (or more); stalks (when present) 1-6 cm long and 1-4 cm
thick, branched or unbranched, central or eccentric, sometimes
rooting.  
Upper surface: Densely matted or wooly, less so with age;
ochre to orange or reddish-brown with yellow margin when
young, rusty-brown to dark brown in age; somewhat zonate.
Pore surface: Greenish-yellow to yellow or orange when
young, bruising brownish, yellowish-brown to dark reddish or
rusty-brown in age; pores 0.5-3 per mm.
Edibility: Inedible.
Comments: The Dye polypore is used to prepare dyes for
fabrics (Figure 7). This polypore encompasses twigs, needles,
and grass as it develops. Check with Bessette or Roody to
compare with similar Inonotus tomentosus which is smaller
and thinner, does not have the greenish-yellow pore surface,
and does not grow in overlapping rosettes. Phaeolus
schweinitzii is a significant parasite, often killing the host tree
as a result of the root and butt rot it causes.

More information at RogersMushrooms.com:   

Figure 1. Typical overlapping cluster of Phaeolus
schweinitzii on the ground. Photo © Larry Grand.

Figure 2. A single, circular cap of Phaeolus schweinitzii.
Photo © Tom Volk.

Figure 3. Note the yellow margins of these young
specimens. Photo © George Barron.

Figure 4. The polypore encompassed these blades of grass
as it developed.

Figure 5. Note the bruising on the brownish pore surface.
Photo © Tom Volk.


Figure 6. This is the underside of the specimen in Figure 4.
Note the short, eccentric stipe and the greenish-yellow
pore surface.

Figure 7. A young, stalked specimen. Pine needles are often
associated with and encompassed by Phaeolus schweinitzii
because pine is a common host of this parasite.

Figure 8. Various colors of dyed wool associated with
Phaeolus schweinitzii and a number of different mordants.
The wool color sample was provided by Gail Blakely.

Figure 9. A beautiful specimen of Phaeolus schweinitzii
collected at the 2008 NEMF foray in Connecticut. This
cluster is about 30 cm in diameter.