Fomitopsis ochracea - Karen Dillman

Description:

Description: English: Moisture droplets exude from this large Fomitopisis ochracea (in the red-belted conk group) on a fall day. This perennial fungus on conifers decays the wood into brown crumbly matter. However this fungus also provides an important function by putting nutrients back into the soil from the decomposed wood, as well as creating conditions for birds and other animals to use the dead tree for home and food storage. The annual layer count makes this example at least 10 years old. #FungiFriday #Tongass. Date: 3 November 2017. Source: https://www.facebook.com/TongassNF/photos/a.512861925512537.1073741830.509767092488687/1144933945638662/. Author: Photo by Karen Dillman, Tongass Ecologist, Mitkof Island.