What is the fungi, or fungus that grows very large on the bark of pine trees?

I'm not 100% it was a pine tree either. It was fallen in the last wing storm. It could have been a cedar, or some evergreen?

wind storm.

[link to www.google.com]

Thanks but,
it's not a bark, or pine beetle, 67258.

Bracket fungi (somethimes called wood-rod fungi) are also club fungi (Basidiomycetes). As with 'coral fungi', 'bracket-fungi' is a common name that does not designate a formal scientific group, so there is some overlap between the two group as they are presented here. The bracket fungi are often hard and leathery or woody, like the substrates on which they grow. Because of this, they tend to be rather persistent and can oftern be seen in the forest throughout the year.



It also makes them easy to collect and preserve, both of home decoration and for scientific purposes. As a result they are rather better known than other, less persistent tropical fungi. Although they perform a valuable role in recycling of nutrients in the forest, they can cause economic losses when they destroy wooden buildings and other man-made structures. On the other hand, they may also produce a variety of substance that could be useful to man. One example is the possible anti cancer activity of Ganoderma lucidum.

[link to waynesword.palomar.edu]

THERE MUSHROOMS GROWING ON THE TREES AND PIPES AND DETERGENT BOTTLES!!

so this type of bracket fungi, is called Ganoderma applanatum , shelf fungus or artist conk!

'artist's fungus' photo on this page

[link to botit.botany.wisc.edu]



cool, now I know! But this is the largest one I've even seen. it must be very old. Very awesome formation too. It's a keeper. I'm going out tomorrow, to see if I can find other large specimens!

check out this photo.
[link to www.mykoweb.com]

A friend in Washington near Maple Valley had a downed everygreen tree on her property that was shaded by a lot of growth, she took me and showed me there was one of those conks growing along the lenghth of the tree. She had measured it and it was six feet long.

shelf fungus