In article
,
Isabella Woodhouse wrote:

In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
Isabella Woodhouse wrote:

For positive ID, you need to get a spore print. Cut the stalk off a
mushroom cap; put the cap, gills down, on a piece of paper or half on a
dark piece of paper and half on a white piece of paper; put a bowl over
the 'shroom cap. Let it sit for awhile (up to 12 hours), then see what
color spores drop out of the cap.

Thanks so much for responding. These are not mushrooms. There are no
recognizable caps or gills. These things are huge. One is nearly the
size of a loaf of bread.... and growing.

Or if you have a natural history museum or college with a
biology/botany/horticulture dept. in your area, bring them a 'shroom
for
ID. There will be someone around who's a fan of fungi who will know
what
it is.

Thanks.

Could be a puffball!!! Those are edible, but I'd want to be sure.

Nope. I know what those are. This is very dense and heavy. I'm still
looking.... as time allows.

Look up "birch conk" or "artist's conk." IIRC, that's what Steve means
by the Latin name he gave you. Something along those lines. Here's some
pictures/photos of conks:

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/bracfung.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingzhi

http://www.mushroomthejournal.com/st...amushroom.html

Sorry about sending you a bummer link... I was trying to do three
things at once and didn't chase any of those links on that site to make
sure they were good or worked.

A funny looking thing that doesn't look like a mushroom is still a
fungi, just not what you think of as a mushroom.

What sort of wood is it growing on? That's always a big clue with fungi.

Jan