Tripe Fungus

Tripe Fungus - Auricularia mesenterica

Description

The thick fruitbodies are pale greyish-brown, and have a rubbery, cartilaginous texture.  Young specimens are pinkish, and initially form circular patches on the substrate.  These join up to form resupinate mats, eventually reflexing to shelf-like brackets, often in tiers.  The upperside is hairy or velvety, and usually zoned; the lower fertile surface or hymenium is veined and wrinkled and may have a whitish bloom. 

Similar Species

The reflexed brackets can look like a Stereum or curtain crust, but have a wrinkled and veined lower surface and rubbery texture 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph in habitat; photogrpah both upper and lower surfaces of reflexed specimens; note habitat, substrate and associated tree species. 

Habitat

On stumps and logs of deciduous trees, especially Elm.

When to see it

All year round.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records