Saprophytic Ganoderma applanatum on oak (Quercus robur)

I was walking around some of the nearby fields yesterday afternoon, and came across a long-dead oak. I had almost passed it, when I caught the glimpse of a fungal bracket right at the base. As I didn’t have my camera on me, I went home to grab it and returned to get the below photos.

What I like about this Ganoderma applanatum is that it’s fruiting out from behind some of the only remaining bark left on the tree. I have seen it fruit on exposed heartwood, as have I seen it (more often) fruit through bark, though this was an intriguing example of a middle-ground of sorts.

Here sits the dead Quercus robur, within a hedgerow consisting mainly of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

A moderately-sized Ganoderma applanatum sporophore can be seen, fruiting at the base.

We can see how it is growing out from behind the bark-covered region.

A side-profile close-up reveals that two growth increments have been laid down, and also shows how the sporophore emanates from behind the bark. It may have even pushed the bark out, somewhat.

The underside of the bracket reveals the brown spores upon the ivy leaves.