Boston Mycological Club

Meripilus sumstinei (Murrill) Larsen in Lombard

Other names:

Meripilus giganteus (Fr.) Kar.

Description:

Usually a large polypore. The fronds slowly bruise black when handled or rubbed. The specimen in the photo below is rather fresh and has yet to show much of the darkening from being handled.

References:

The following references, except Bessette, are all as Meripilus giganteus.

Bessette - Mushrooms of Northeastern North America; page 387
Lincoff - Audubon Field Guide to North American Mushrooms; page 470
Kibby - Mushrooms and Other Fungi; page 166
Phillips - Mushrooms of North America; page 258
Arora - Mushrooms Demystified; page 565 (in the comments for the description of Bondarzewia montana)

Images:

Collected 2001-07-15, Hingham, MA; Wompatuck State Park