Names and descriptions of mushrooms growing on tree stumps (+41 photos)

Mushrooms

Mushrooms growing on tree stumps are common in forested parks and gardens. However, not everyone dares to pick them, as not everyone knows which ones are edible and which are poisonous. In fact, very few of these mushroom varieties are edible, and most have inedible lookalikes.

Reasons for mushroom growth on stumps

Fungi that settle in this way are classified as saprophytic fungi, feeding on the remains of various microorganisms. They parasitize the body of a stump or living tree, destroying the wood. Fungal spores spread to the damaged areas, forming a mycelium that allows the fungi to penetrate deeper into the wood, causing further damage.

Reasons for the appearance of mushrooms on stumps:

Mechanical damage (cutting, breaking).
Irregular garden maintenance.
Tree damage by pests.
The deliberate introduction of fungal spores into stumps or trees for the purpose of cultivating edible species.

Edible mushrooms growing on tree stumps

Edible mushrooms can be difficult to identify, but photographs clearly show their distinctive characteristics, and the name and description of each one are easy to remember.

The most popular edible mushrooms, growing on living or rotten wood in the wild or cultivated, are red and yellow honey mushrooms, which grow naturally in clusters on old coniferous stumps (spruce and pine). They are widely used in cooking. They are pickled, fried, canned, and salted without any health risks.

Due to their high content of trace elements (copper and zinc), which are involved in the formation of blood cells, eating honey mushrooms has a beneficial effect on the body. However, among honey mushrooms, there are also their lookalikes, called false honey mushrooms, which are poisonous. A distinguishing feature is the presence of a ring on the stem of the edible fruit. The following varieties of edible honey mushrooms exist:

Winter honey fungus (Flammulina velutipes). Often conspicuous due to its bright orange color. The cap has a smooth transition from bright to dark, becoming darker toward the center. The stem is covered with fine hairs. The flesh is whitish, with a distinct mushroom aroma. Due to its good tolerance to low temperatures, winter honey fungus can be found in winter under the snow on damaged wood of deciduous trees (willow, poplar).
Summer honey fungus (Kuehneromyces mutabilis). It spreads on decaying larch trees. The small brown or dark yellow cap is up to 6 cm long and convex in young fruits, flattening out with age in older ones. The stem grows up to 7 cm long. It has yellow flesh with a pleasant aroma.
The autumn honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) grows on rotten alder, aspen, and birch stumps. The cap is quite large, up to seventeen centimeters in circumference, and greenish or brownish in color. The stems grow up to ten centimeters long and are scaly and light brown in appearance. The flesh is firm and aromatic.

Other edible mushrooms:

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae) has a funnel-shaped, light-gray cap (3-12 cm) that gives it its name. The stem is centrally located (2-6 cm) and covered with small gills. The flesh is white, somewhat firm, and dense, with a delicate aroma. Oyster mushrooms can be seen growing on deciduous stumps.
The curly grifola (Grifola frondosa), or ram's-head mushroom, is recognizable by its fused cap and short, light-colored stem. It has dense, tasty, white flesh. It grows on oak or maple stumps, weighing up to ten kilograms.
Common liverwort (Fistulina hepatica). Appropriately, it resembles a liver. The cap is semicircular, reddish-brown, and reaches 30 cm in length, with a short stem. The red, dense flesh has an unusually sour taste and a fruity aroma. It prefers oak or chestnut trees, and occasionally other deciduous plants. Active growth occurs from late summer to October.
Tiger Saw-Leaf (Lentinus tigrinus). Grows in summer and fall, spreading on deciduous trees. The cap is scaly, 4-8 cm in diameter, and hazel-colored. The scales covering the cap are usually brown. The curved stem is 3-8 cm. The fruiting body is somewhat hard, without a particularly distinct odor. It is a high-protein product;
Polyporus alveolaris. These mushrooms grow on deciduous stumps in the spring and summer. The reddish-yellow cap is oval, up to eight centimeters in diameter, and covered with small scales. The white stem, located laterally, is approximately 10 cm long. The flesh is white, particularly firm, and has a subtle aroma.
Polyporus squamosus (scaly tinder fungus). The most common species, growing on stumps and trees in parks and forests. Its main distinguishing feature is its scaly, leathery, yellowish cap, up to 30 cm in diameter. The stem is scaly, brown, and 10 cm long. The flesh is aromatic, dense, and juicy. Young specimens of the polyporus are best for cooking, as older specimens tend to be tough.
The sulfur-yellow polypore (Laetiporus sulphureus), also known as the chicken fungus, is a parasitic fungus on fruit and coniferous trees. The yellowish, teardrop-shaped cap, 10 to 40 cm in size, sits on a barely visible yellow stem, with firm, juicy flesh.

Although the mushroom varieties presented are edible, they require careful heat treatment before cooking.

Poisonous and inedible types of mushrooms

There are far more inedible mushrooms that thrive on tree stumps than edible specimens. If ingested, they cause irreparable harm. Inedible mushrooms growing on tree stumps include Ganoderma, Ischnoderma, Postia, and others. Photos and detailed descriptions reveal distinctive characteristics not found in other species:

Ganoderma australe. This mushroom is distinguished by a dense, fairly large cap (40 x 13 cm), dark brown in color. The stem is not clearly defined. The brown flesh is soft. Favorite habitats are poplar, oak, and linden stumps;
Ischnoderma resinosum. This parasite inhabits beech, birch, fir, and linden trees, causing decay. It has a bronze-colored cap, reaching 20 cm in length. As it grows, the cap secretes a reddish liquid in droplets. The flesh is poisonous, white, and juicy.
Piptoporus quercinus. Fan-shaped fruiting body 10-15 cm in diameter with a beautiful velvety surface, yellowish-brown in color. It grows primarily on oak trees;
Postia stiptica. This mushroom is easily recognizable by its whitish bodies, which can take various shapes. Young postias are covered with droplets of liquid over their entire surface. The flesh is quite dense, juicy, and slightly bitter. This mushroom prefers coniferous trees for propagation.
Turkey Tail (Trametes pubescens). Its favorite habitat is birch and pine stumps or dead wood. It grows in groups. The caps are covered with soft fluff. The color comes in various shades of gray. The flesh is white and dense.

With their beautiful appearance and aroma, inedible mushrooms attract the eye; they are easily confused with edible specimens, so you should pay special attention to their description.

Mushrooms used in folk medicine

There are varieties of this mushroom species that are effectively used in folk medicine to treat various ailments; they are included in medicinal tinctures, decoctions, and ointments:

Larch sponge (Fomitopsis officinalis) or agaricus. These mushrooms are white or pale yellow, oblong, and resemble an animal's hoof. They can weigh up to 10 kg. They grow on coniferous trees or larch stumps. When used as part of a medicinal preparation, they have a laxative effect, stop bleeding, have a sedative effect, and act as a mild hypnotic. They are used to reduce sweating.
Ganoderma lucidum, or reishi, is a glazed tinder fungus commonly found on the stumps of fallen deciduous trees. Its cap is ovoid or kidney-shaped, reddish-brown, and covered with a delicate, smooth, shiny skin. The flesh is ochre-colored and tasteless. Medicines made from Ganoderma lucidum have antitumor and immune-boosting properties, improve circulation and metabolism, and normalize blood pressure.
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), also known as birch tinder fungus, infects alder, birch, and maple stumps, as well as trees, growing up to forty centimeters in diameter. Its body is black, irregularly shaped, and covered in small cracks. When used as part of a medicinal preparation, it has antigastritic, antitumor, diuretic, and antispasmodic effects.

Answers to frequently asked questions

How many years does it take for mushrooms to grow on one stump?

The size of the stump and the degree of its natural deterioration are crucial for the development of fungi. They can grow for a fairly long period, from 8-10 years, before the stump is completely destroyed. Artificially grown mushrooms on wood bear fruit for 6-8 years.

If you're growing mushrooms at home, which tree stump is best?

Freshly cut stumps of birch, aspen, elm, apple, pear, acacia, and poplar trees measuring 40 cm x 50 cm are ideal for growing oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms at home. If the stumps are dry, soak them in water for 4-5 days. Coniferous wood is not suitable for mushroom cultivation.

Can you eat mushrooms from pine stumps?

Mushrooms growing on conifers are edible if they are considered edible. However, mushrooms growing on coniferous stumps have a slightly bitter taste. Therefore, to remove the bitterness, the mushrooms should be thoroughly cooked.

When mushroom hunting, pickers look for their desired prey on the ground, forgetting about the useful edible mushrooms that prefer stumps and trees. Don't worry if there's no forested park nearby; you can grow wonderful mushrooms yourself by using recently cut stumps and following certain guidelines.